Chelsea strengthened their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, who are now without a win in eight matches.
The game started at a ferocious pace and it was Chelsea who went ahead early with the first shot of the game. The goal was all about Marc Cucurella, who won the ball ahead of Jaden Philogene with a strong challenge. The Aston Villa players wanted a free-kick but nothing was forthcoming as Cucurella went on to pick out Nicolas Jackson and the striker swept home from close range for his eighth Premier League goal of the season.
Aston Villa's first chance fell to Ollie Watkins, who did brilliantly to beat Wesley Fofana to the ball. The England striker was bearing down on goal but goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was quickly off his line to make a smart block.
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Watkins denied buy sanchez
Ollie Watkins gets the better of Wesley Fofana but is denied by Robert Sanchez
Chelsea had the chance to extend their advantage after Emiliano Martinez picked the ball up after a touch from Pau Torres. Referee Stuart Attwell whistled for a pass back to hand Chelsea an indirect free-kick from around eight yards out. With all the Villa players back on the goal line, the ball was touched to Cole Palmer and his powerful shot was brilliantly kept out by Martinez.
Cole Palmer's free-kick is saved by Emi Martinez
Image: Cole Palmer's free-kick is saved by Emi Martinez
In a mad few moments from the Villa goalkeeper, he then almost gifted Chelsea a second as he inexplicably passed the ball straight to Jackson, but the Chelsea striker's heavy touch allowed the Argentina international to recover.
Chelsea's dominance continued and they finally extended their advantage just before the break. Enzo Maresca's side won the ball high up before Palmer's slick pass found Enzo Fernandez, who finished emphatically from the edge of the penalty area.
Villa created another opening for Watkins in stoppage time at the end of the first half with Philogene playing the striker in on goal, but he was again denied by Sanchez to send Chelsea in at the break with a deserved two-goal advantage.
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Chelsea v Aston Villa: Disaster averted! Martinez scrambles to save Jackson's attempt
Martinez avoids disaster as the Villa 'keeper scrambles to recover the ball
Sanchez was in action early in the second half as Villa, who were forced into a change at the break with goalkeeper Martinez replaced by Robin Olsen, worked the ball to John McGinn. The Villa captain bent a shot towards the far corner but the Chelsea goalkeeper pushed the ball to safety with the offside flag eventually going up against McGinn.
The second half lacked the tempo of the first and the game started to fizzle out as a Villa revival never materialised.
That was until Palmer's special strike into the top corner sealed a big win that sees Chelsea, who move up to third and level on points and goal difference with Arsenal, open up a six-point gap to Villa as Emery's side drop into the bottom half of the table in 12th.
The Chelsea goals...
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Chelsea v Aston Villa: Nicolas Jackson gets Chelsea's early opener in off the post
Marc Cucurella crosses the ball over to Nicolas Jackson who coolly guides his shot in off the near post
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Chelsea v Aston Villa: Clinical! Enzo Fernandez doubles Chelsea's lead over Villa
Palmer sets up Fernandez up perfectly to double Chelsea's lead
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Cole Palmer whips the ball into the top corner to extend Chelsea's lead over Aston Villa.
Palmer makes it three for Chelsea in style
Story of the match in stats...
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