Full time! 3-0 Chelsea. Villa steadied the ship after conceding early on to Oscar's close range goal but in the end the weight of pressure finally told and the Blues were just too strong today.
90'
John Obi Mikel has tightened things up in front of the back four and Jose will be very pleased to have had the luxury of withdrawing Hazard and Costa with plenty of games coming up.
89'
Now it's Villa's turn to knock the ball around under no real pressure from their hosts. In spite of the result today Paul Lambert must be very pleased with their start to season especially given the fixtures they have been faced with. The way Chelsea have been playing it is no disgrace to lose at Stamford Bridge.
86'
It's turned into a bit of a keep ball session and Villa are chasing shadows at the moment. Chelsea's imperious start to season looks set to continue. Clean sheets haven't been plentiful for Mourinho's men so they'll be hoping to keep Villa out and complete a perfect afternoon's work.
83'
Chelsea are quite content just to knock the ball across their back four at the moment. This has been as a routine a victory as you will see this season. The Blues look like a side that could go all the way to the Premier League title. Villa have not been awful by any means but they have not been able to cope with the firepower thrown at them this afternoon.
81'
L. Rémy enters the game and replaces Diego Costa.
Remy has come on for the final stages in place of Diego Costa. The signing from Atletico Madrid already looks a snip at £32m. Villa are a beaten side now and the important thing for them now is to keep concentrating and not let the score get worse.
79'
Willian has scored a goal for Chelsea!
GOAL! 3-0! Willian this time finds the back of the net. But all the hard work was done by Diego Costa who collected Fabregas' excellent pass before cutting inside onto his right foot, the striker then fires the ball at Guzan. The American keeper can only parry the ball into the path of Willian who gets lucky with the rebound and has the simple task of tapping the ball into the net. Game, set and match.
77'
M. Obi enters the game and replaces Oscar.
76'
Offside! Matic has a free header from Fabregas' free kick but puts it wide. Diego Costa was upended by Baker. Matic must be relieved to see the flag raised as he really should've hit the target there.
74'
The majority of Chelsea's goal this season have come in the second half so to already be one up is a nice bonus. Terry and Cahill can't have had many easier games than this one. Villa haven't been able to get in behind at any point and it has all been rather too predictable.
Minute
Description
72'
Chelsea are as good as any, probably the best in fact in the division at shutting a game down. That's exactly what they are trying to do at the moment. The last thing Jose Mourinho wants is for Villa to get any sort of encouragement.
70'
Darren Bent and Charles N'Zogbia have come on for Villa and they'll try to make things happen. Two of Paul Lambert's forgotten men that have been brought back into the fold this season. Chelsea have just retreated a little in the last couple of minutes. there is no need for them to force the issue at this stage at 2-0 up.
69'
D. Bent enters the game and replaces K. Richardson.
C. N'Zogbia enters the game and replaces A. Weimann.
68'
A. Schürrle enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
SHOT! Alan Hutton with a trademark lung busting run forward down the right ends with a half volley that is easily held by Courtois. More like it from Villa who are going to have to be a bit more aggressive and direct in their play if they are to haul themselves back into contention.
66'
A part of Costa's game that is rather overlooked is his link up play. His willingness to show for the ball and bring other into the game has been exceptional this afternoon. The Spaniard nearly gets his second goal of the match but he can't quite get on the end of Hazard's driven cross.
64'
There was a certain amount of tension building around Stamford Bridge but that has been completely lifted by Diego Costa's goal. Chelsea can smell blood now and they are going for the kill. Villa are defending bravely and they'll need to for the next few minutes otherwise the floodgates could open.
62'
P. Senderos gets yellow.
You would be brave to back against Chelsea now. Aston Villa have an absolute mountain to climb and on the basis of the match so far they haven't shown much to suggest that they can turn this around. Schurrle is readying himself to come and it looks like it will be Hazard that he will replace, with midweek Champions League fixtures in mind no doubt.
59'
Diego Costa has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by César Azpilicueta.
GOAL! 2-0 to Chelsea! Who else but Diego Costa? It's a thumping header from an Azpilicueta cross. The Blues moved the ball well down the left hand side with Hazard and Willian combining before the left back stood up an inviting ball for the Premier League's top scorer to bury.
58'
Cesc Fàbregas gets yellow.
57'
Fabregas doesn't escape punishment like his colleague Oscar did a couple of minutes ago, as he rightly gets booked for a bad tackle on Agbonlahor who had used his blistering pace to jink past him.
55'
Oscar is fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a foul on Cleverley. Westwood then swings in a decent cross into the box which is meet by Villa centre back Nathan Baker but he can only direct his header onto the top of Courtois' goal.
52'
The Stamford Bridge faithful are just urging their side to up the tempo and play with a little more pace. Easier said than down when you are faced with ten men behind the ball but Chelsea are used to this type of approach from visiting teams. As Pellegrini would tell you Mourinho's men are capable of employing the same sort of tactics when it suits them.
51'
T. Cleverley gets yellow.
50'
Villa have enjoyed a decent amount of possession at the start of the second period which is abruptly brought to end when Tom Cleverley hacks down Hazard and promptly receives a yellow card for his troubles.
48'
WIDE! Delph dances past Fabregas and Willian before unleashing a fierce strike with his left foot that fizzes past the post. Much better from the away side and a warning to Chelsea that this game is far from over.
46'
Chelsea get the second half underway. Despite not threatening Courtois, Aston Villa are very much still in the game and it's all to play for.
45' +2
There's the halftime whistle 1-0 to Chelsea. The Blues lead through Oscar's early goal.
45'
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the half. Willian throws in a couple of stepovers before working the ball onto his less favoured left foot but he can't keep his shot down and the ball is lashed high over the crossbar.
43'
Such is Chelsea's potency on the counter attack you suspect that Mourinho wouldn't mind Villa having a bit more of the ball in advanced areas, as it would draw the away team out of their defensive shape and leave some space to exploit on the break.
41'
Delph and Cleverley have managed to get a couple of shots away but both strikes are blocked. A bit better from Villa as they are having some possession in the opposition half. Chelsea then breakaway down the other end but Willian's attempted curler sails way over the far for a goalkick.
38'
You feel a second goal for the home team would be too much for Villa to overcome. Such has been Chelsea's dominance so far. The ball isn't sticking up front with Agbonlahor or Weimann. There have been too many long balls played up to the Villa forwards they need need to get the ball into feet to build an attacking platform. Cahill and Terry will win most of the aerial battles otherwise.
36'
Courtois has had absolutely nothing to do in goal for Chelsea and this is something Paul Lambert will want to change before the halftime interval. Villa simply can't keep hold of the ball long enough at the moment to relieve the pressure on their backline.
34'
SAVE! Diego Costa's first sight of goal and the big striker gets his header on target but Guzan deals with the effort comfortably. It was a decent cross into the box from Ivanovic but the Villa centre backs will be annoyed with giving the inform Costa that amount of space in the box.
32'
Chelsea are playing the ball from one side to the other looking to pull the Villa defence out of position. Oscar manages to wriggle free of Alan Hutton and the Brazilian nutmges the Villa right back but his cut back is well dealt with at the near post by Senderos.
30'
CHANCE! Fabregas will be very disappointed with himself as he drags his shot wide after good work down the left from Eden Hazard. The Belgian forward teased and twisted Hutton before laying the ball off to the edge of the area.
28'
As you might expect Chelsea are dominating possession with Matic and Fabregas seeing plenty of the ball in the middle of the park. The Blues are having to be a bit more patient at the moment as Villa are leaving no space in behind.
26'
G. Cahill gets yellow.
25'
Gary Cahill becomes the first name to go in Phil Dowd's notebook after cynically tripping Agbonlahor just inside the Chelsea half. There was no need for Cahill to make such a challenge as there was no immediate danger and plenty of his teammates were covering.
23'
The game has just started to settle down after a fairly frantic opening quarter. Chelsea look menacing whenever they go forward at pace. The home side have so many different options when they attack. Villa are sitting deep and looking to spring on the counter when the opportunity presents itself.
21'
Fabregas is really pulling the strings in the opening exchanges of this match. Always available to receive the ball, his weight and range of passing has been of the excellent standard we have come to expect from the Spanish playmaker.
19'
Richardson's cross field pass is headed out for a Villa corner which Ashley Westwood takes. It is an outswinging delivery that eventually bounces up to Aly Cissokho at about 12 yards out. The left back tries an awkward half volley but his effort drops the wide of the post.
17'
Paul Lambert will know that it is absolutely vital for his team not to concede again in the next few minutes and try to get to half time 1-0 down in the worse case scenario. Villa have been guilty of overplaying in central midfield areas.
15'
Diego Costa sets away Willian with a delightful backheel. The Chelsea winger scampers down the left wing and his cross is deflected behind for a corner. Chelsea work the corner short but Fabregas' cross is punched away by Guzan.
13'
The attacking trio of Hazard, Oscar and Willian have been causing their opponents all sorts of problems early on by swapping and interchanging positions in behind the main striker Diego Costa. It is very difficult for Villa to pick them up.
11'
Villa have actually responded quite well to going behind with some neat and incisive passing. Trying to use their pace out wide on the counter attack. They haven't created a meaningful opportunity yet but they've certainly turned the Chelsea defence and given the home side some nervy moments.
9'
Perfect start for the league leaders and an absolute nightmare for the visitors. My stat about Aston Villa not conceding a goal away from home lasted all of seven minutes.
7'
Oscar has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Willian.
GOAL! Chelsea take the lead through Oscar! Ivanovic plays an excellent ball into the right hand channel and finds Willian who fires a shot in at Guzan's near post. The American goalkeeper saves the low effort but Willian is aware enough to cut the ball back to his fellow Brazilian Oscar who sweeps the ball in at the near post.
4'
Aston Villa are trying to play the ball out from the back with Guzan resisting the temptation to kick it long. it's putting the away side under a fair bit of pressure as Chelsea squeeze the play high up the pitch.
2'
Diego Costa is fouled needlessly by Senderos and it gives Fabregas a chance to put the ball into the box. Ivanovic meets the cross but his header loops into the arms of Guzan in the Villa goal.
1'
And we're underway at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea and Aston Villa are in their traditional strips.
Good afternoon and welcome to Stamford Bridge for this Premier League clash between Chelsea and Aston Villa. I'm Chris Baker and I'll be describing the action for you today.
The team news is in and we'll start with the home side...
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa. Subs: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Remy, Schurrle and Drogba.
Aston Villa (4-5-1): Guzan; Hutton, Senderos, Baker, Cissokho; Weimann, Cleverley, Westwood, Delph, Richardson; Agbonlahor (c). Subs: Given, Clark, Bacuna, N'Zogbia, Grealish, Sanchez and Bent.
As expected Mourinho makes a number of changes from the side that defeated Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup on Wednesday night. Courtois, Ivanovic, Terry, Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Hazard and Costa return to the team with Cech, Filipe Luis, Remy and Schurrle dropping to the bench. The Blues go into this afternoon's match protecting the only unbeaten record remaining in English football this season.
Aston Villa come into this match on the back of a 3-0 defeat at home against Arsenal. Paul Lambert's men haven't conceded a goal away from home so far this season and are the only Premier League side that can boast that statistic. A sickness bug hit the squad last week but Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent, Nathan Baker and Ashley Westwood have sufficiently recovered to involved today.
Aston Villa have been something of a bogey team for Jose Mourinho. Chelsea lost 1-0 away at Villa Park last season and Mourinho's last game in charge of his first spell of the west Londoner's was a defeat against Villa. The Blues have however beaten Villa 7-1 and 8-0 at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons.
The players are out on the pitch and kick off is just minutes away here at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been ruthless in the opening 45 minutes scoring with their only clear opening. Villa will be pretty disappointed with how they fell behind relatively easily. Since conceding they have managed to keep their composure and have defended well. The visitors however have posed absolutely no attacking threat thus far.
You imagine the gameplan for Aston Villa will remain much the same in the second half - try and contain Chelsea as much as possible and then try to score a goal on break or through a set piece. Darren Bent seems the obvous option if Paul Lambert wants more of a physical presence up top. Chelsea's substitutes bench is as good as any you'll see in European/World football. Schurrle, Remy and Drogba could all come on and make a big difference.
Chelsea go marching on and they'll take some catching. They despatched Aston Villa with ease and it looked like they could've gone up a couple of gears if the needed to. There seems to be an excellent balance and understanding amongst the Chelsea players at the moment. The marquee signings have settled in straight away.
It is difficult to be too critical of Aston Villa, they came with a gameplan that was completely dismantled after only seven minutes. From then on it was always going to be an uphill battle against such a strong side away from home. Paul Lambert will be reasonably satisified with the way his players stuck together and didn't capitulate. That said there will be a bit of concern about the distinct lack of attacking threat that they showed over the 90 minutes.
That's all from me folks! Thanks very much for joining me this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I've been Chris Baker and I'll see you again next time.
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