A late double from Ollie Watkins saw Aston Villa pull off a stunning comeback to defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, keeping Unai Emery’s side firmly in the Premier League title hunt.
Despite a dominant opening half from the Blues, Villa secured their 11th consecutive victory across all competitions, leaving the hosts to regret a series of squandered chances.
The match began with Chelsea firmly in control, and they eventually broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when a Reece James corner deflected off Joao Pedro’s leg and into the net.
However, the momentum shifted in the second half following a series of clinical substitutions from Emery.
Watkins, entering as a substitute, leveled the score shortly after coming on and then rose unmarked to head home the winner from a corner with five minutes remaining.
The afternoon was also marked by a visible display of frustration from Cole Palmer, who appeared incensed after being withdrawn by the coaching staff while the game was still hanging in the balance.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Robert Sanchez – 5
The Spanish goalkeeper had a quiet opening 45 minutes as Villa struggled to threaten. In the second period, he showed alertness by rushing off his line to deny Boubacar Kamara in a one-on-one situation. While he was somewhat unfortunate with the nature of the goals conceded, he remained relatively solid throughout.
Reece James – 8
Continuing his return to top form, the captain was immense in the early stages, notably producing a vital recovery challenge to halt Morgan Rogers. He was the catalyst for Chelsea’s opener, delivering the dangerous corner that led to the goal. James consistently won his individual duels and looked a level above his peers for much of the contest.
Trevoh Chalobah – 5
Seeing a significant amount of the ball, the defender was steady in possession and handled several dangerous counter-attacking scenarios well. He remained composed even when Chelsea found themselves outnumbered at the back during Villa’s late surges.
Benoit Badiashile – 6
The Frenchman produced several key interventions, specifically an excellent defensive stand against Rogers during a dangerous two-on-two break in the first half. Like his defensive partner, he saw plenty of the ball and was effective in neutralising transitions for the majority of the match.
Marc Cucurella – 6
Typically energetic, the full-back was heavily involved in the game’s physical battles and was successful in disrupting Villa’s rhythm. He played a vital role in slowing down the visitors’ transitions before being replaced in the final quarter of the match.
Moises Caicedo – 7
A relentless presence in the middle of the park, Caicedo’s ability to read the game helped Chelsea maintain their early dominance. He was unlucky not to find the scoresheet himself after a powerful strike in the first half and was instrumental in breaking up several Villa attacks.
Enzo Fernandez – 6
The midfielder had a golden opportunity to put Chelsea ahead early on but failed to hit the target from a promising position. While he moved the ball well, he struggled to impose himself on the game as it became more stretched in the second half.
Pedro Neto – 5
The winger started with real intent on the right flank, providing a brilliant cross for Joao Pedro that was narrowly saved. However, his influence waned as the match progressed, and he found it difficult to impact the game during the second-half struggle.
Cole Palmer – 5
Chelsea’s talisman was the creative hub early on, nearly scoring within the first two minutes and consistently threading passes through the Villa lines. His game ended on a sour note, however, as he reacted with visible anger toward assistant manager Willy Caballero after being substituted in the 74th minute.
Alejandro Garnacho – 6
While the winger frequently found himself in threatening positions, his final ball and finishing lacked the necessary clinical edge. It was a performance defined by high energy but ultimate frustration as his efforts failed to yield a concrete result.
Joao Pedro – 7
The Brazilian was a constant nuisance for the Villa defense and was rewarded for his persistence when he bundled home the opening goal from a corner. It marked his second goal in as many games, proving he is finding his clinical touch despite the eventual team result.
Substitutes
Malo Gusto – 6
Coming on for the final 20 minutes at left-back, the Frenchman was tidy in his work but was unable to prevent the pressure that led to the winning corner.
Jamie Gittens – 5
Introduced late to provide fresh legs on the wing, he struggled to see enough of the ball to truly test the Villa backline during the closing stages.
Liam Delap – 5
His cameo was primarily noted for a quick yellow card for dissent shortly after entering. He failed to provide the attacking spark needed to find a late equalizer.
Estevao Willian – 6
Replaced the frustrated Palmer for the final quarter-hour but had limited opportunities to showcase his flair as Villa shut up shop.