Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1

Last updated : 24 September 2005 By Footymad Previewer
The Chelsea juggernaut keeps rolling on as Jose Mourinho's side came from behind to beat Aston Villa.

Seven wins out of seven and running away with the Premiership just a couple of months into the season and with their seasoned rivals faltering, makes this a very fine day for Chelsea indeed.

And nobody epitomises the spirit of the champions better than Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder, already lionised in midweek with the accolade of being placed in the world football eleven, produced the goods once again.

Two goals to turn the match around is a sign that this team is starting to become the stuff of legends.

But Chelsea did suffer the singular embarrassment of conceding their first Premiership goal of the season a couple of minutes before half-time. The honour went to young striker Luke Moore.

His persistence to get a shot away, on target, after collecting a long punt by goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen deserved something. He twisted around in the six-yard box, and hit a low left footer across the path of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.

Such was the angle and power of the shot that Cech could not deflect the ball from its intended path and it rapped the inside netting to give the Midlands side a sensational lead.

Quite how Chelsea did not reap reward for their total possession and attempts on target is the subject of a Mourinho inquiry.

His anger at conceding the goal was evident as he stormed off the bench and back to the dressing room to prepare his half-time verbal onslaught of his players.

Perhaps he should have shown greater faith in his inspirational midfielder because within seconds Chelsea got their just rewards.

Michael Essien powered towards goal only to be up-ended on the edge of the Villa box by Liam Ridgewell. That is not the area to allow Lampard an attempt on goal. Villa prepared their wall, but it was to no avail.

Up stepped Lampard to drill a well-placed, right-footed daisy-cutter, wide left of the Villa rearguard.

The ball deviated slightly off its path, inwards and nestled inside the goalkeeper's left-hand corner of the net.

It was relief all round for the Chelsea faithful and a kick in the guts for Villa who defended resolutely.

The second half saw a repeat performance by both sides, Chelsea dominating, Villa defending for their lives as they tried to protect a precious point.

Mourinho rang the changes with his substitutions - the significant one being the arrival of Didier Drogba for Hernan Crespo on 57 minutes.

The powerful Ivory Coast striker proved to be a handful for the Villa defence, and, on 74 minutes, Lampard's angled chip to him resulted in Olof Mellberg fouling the striker.

Lampard dispatched the spot-kick in typical fashion, low, powerful and beyond the grasp of Sorensen who can at least take comfort by selecting the correct side.

The Chelsea bandwagon rolls on and despite a spirited last ten minutes by Villa, nothing could prevent the Blues taking another three Premiership points.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - Showed with his two goals just how vital he is to the side. His positional play and ability to spread the ball to either wing alone makes him irreplaceable.