Ollie Watkins stepped off the bench to help Aston Villa complete a comeback victory against Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, equalling a club record of 11 consecutive wins in the process.
The visitors were second best in the first half, trailing to a João Pedro goal at the break, but the introduction of Watkins sparked Villa into life offensively, and he equalised shortly before the hour mark.
Several chances came and went for the transformed Villans before Watkins buried a header from Jadon Sancho’s corner to send the travelling support wild with seven minutes left.
The result tied the club’s record for consecutive wins, which was set in 1897 and achieved again in 1914, keeping Unai Emery’s team just three points off the top of the table heading into a game against pacesetters Arsenal on Tuesday.
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Villa arrived in West London with club history on the line, while also looking to make it eight top-flight triumphs on the bounce.
Emery brought Donyell Malen and Emi Buendía into the starting XI to face the Blues, and he watched on as Cole Palmer sent a half volley flying narrowly wide of the far post inside the opening two minutes.
The visitors were starved of possession but were managing to keep Chelsea at arm’s length before Enzo Fernández picked up a dangerous position on the edge of the box and curled a shot inches wide after 18 minutes.
Reece James slashed a bouncing ball wide of the target, while blocks and headers racked up as Villa put in a resolute defensive display.
But their resistance was finally broken in the 37th minute when James dropped his corner kick under the crossbar, with the ball flicking off Pedro and in as a mass of players battled in the six-yard box.
Emi Martínez saved and held a Palmer drive as the hosts closed out the half with a one-goal lead.
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Villa had failed to live up to their offensive ability in the first half, but they showed greater intent at the start of the second when Morgan Rogers’ shot deflected narrowly off target.
Chelsea’s threat remained, however, and John McGinn did superbly to turn Palmer’s ball across the face of goal behind before Martínez clawed James’ overhit cross away from goal.
Alejandro Garnacho bent an effort over the crossbar before Emery made a triple change shortly before the hour mark, introducing Watkins, Amadou Onana and Sancho.
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Watkins was straight into the action, leading a counter-attack that saw him slide a ball through to the marauding Boubacar Kamara, whose shot was saved by Robert Sánchez.
But just two minutes later, Villa had their equaliser when Rogers played Watkins in and the striker’s shot cannoned off the Chelsea ‘keeper and against his shin, nestling in the back of the net.
The away side were suddenly transformed, threatening again when Ian Maatsen’s piledriver was blocked by Sánchez.
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Watkins saw a low shot kept out by a strong hand from the home stopper before Rogers capped a dominant spell by sending a free-kick onto the roof of the net.
Six minutes remained when the away support went wild once more, celebrating another Watkins goal after the striker rose highest to meet Sancho’s corner, planting his header into the far corner.
Villa continued to be the aggressors in the time that remained, Sancho and Lucas Digne shooting on target, before the team in claret and blue were able to celebrate with their fans at the final whistle.