Aston Villa 0 : 2 Chelsea

Posted Sunday, July 31, 2011 by The Sun

Aston Villa 0 : 2 Chelsea
ADVANTAGE CHELSEA ... Josh McEachran opens the scoring

Villas-Boas made just one change at the break with Brazilian defender Alex replacing Branislav Ivanovic, who appeared to tweak a muscle during the first half.

Alex McLeish also shuffled his pack, sending on Emile Heskey in place of Marc Albrighton to partner Gabby Agbonlahor in attack.

Chelsea were quickly on top once again after the restart and skipper John Terry saw his header cleared off the line by Fabian Delph.

Given then produced two outstanding saves to deny Yuri Zhirkov and Lampard as the Blues turned the screw once again.

Villas-Boas introduced Torres, Didier Drogba and Patrick van Aanholt for Zhirkov, McEachran and Daniel Sturridge with 58 minutes played.

And Torres needed just 15 seconds to divert Malouda's shot into the net after the Frenchman lost his footing while striking the ball.

The World Cup winner clearly had his confidence back and he skinned Dunne in the 70th minute before being denied a second goal by a smart block from Given.

Anelka, who worked hard throughout, was replaced by Yossi Benayoun with 14 minutes left as Villas-Boas made another change.

The Israeli looked lively on the ball but Chelsea appeared happy to run down the clock and cruise to victory.

Lampard was replaced by Salomon Kalou before Heskey attempted to have the final say in the closing minutes with a low drive which flew just wide of Petr Cech's far post.

Aston Villa: Given, Young, Dunne (Clark 83), Collins, Warnock, Petrov (Gardner 74), Delph (Makoun 74), Albrighton (Heskey 46), Ireland (Bent 62), Delfouneso (Bannan 62), Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, Beye, Lichaj, Herd, Marshall, Lowry. Booked: Albrighton.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic (Alex 46), Terry (Chalobah 90), Bosingwa, Zhirkov (Van Aanholt 59), Malouda, Lampard (Kalou 85), Mikel, McEachran (Drogba 59), Sturridge (Torres 59), Anelka (Benayoun 73). Subs not used: Hilario, Cole, Ferreira. Booked: Malouda.

Goals: McEachran 1, Torres 59.

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

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