The Times
September 3, 2007

Abramovich scuttles from scene of defeat
Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 0

Martin Samuel at Villa Park

The sing-along for the travelling fans before the game proved eerily
appropriate. Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis got the vistors going. By
the end, however, speculation surrounded the likelihood of one being
planted between the shoulder blades of José Mourinho, if he fails to
improve on this.

Roman Abramovich does not say much. Yesterday he did not need to. His
exit two minutes from time after Gabriel Agbonlahor put the match
beyond Chelsea's reach was a speech in itself. Face like thunder,
Abramovich headed for the exit as his team limped towards journey's
end behind him, pausing only to give the most cursory handshake of
congratulation to Doug Ellis, the former Aston Villa chairman.

The official explanation was that he had gone down to the
dressing-room to see the players, but that is a strange one. Did he
not think they were still going to be there five minutes after the
final whistle? Why the rush? Already rumours have circulated that he
is unhappy with the thrill factor of Chelsea's play this season —
hence his stalking of Ronaldinho — but until now he has at least been
unable to question the return. This was quite different, though. Lousy
football is one thing; lousy losing football quite another.

This is to take nothing from Aston Villa, who were worth their win,
whatever the bizarre protests of Chelsea's manager. If anything, Villa
played Chelsea at their game, looking like Mourinho's championship
vintage team from two seasons ago, with pace on the flanks, energy in
the heart of midfield, solid defence and a bruising battering ram of a
striker.

Ashley Young marked his call-up to the England squad with an
outstanding performance but it was John Carew, in the role of Didier
Drogba, that left Chelsea's defence uncommonly rattled. John Terry had
terrible problems with him early on, while debutant Alex looked
worryingly short of the combative qualities that are essential for
Premier League success. In many ways, this is mitigation for Mourinho.
It is hard to blame him for Chelsea's failings, when so many of his
judgment calls are being proven right.

He was believed to be resistant to the purchase of Alex last season,
considering him short of the level required, and Juliano Belletti was
not his first-choice right back, coming into the picture only when the
move for Daniel Alves had collapsed. On both men, his instincts appear
correct. Neither Alex nor Belletti impressed on their debuts.

Unlike Villa's new signing Zat Knight, scorer of the first goal after
47 minutes. His header from Gareth Barry's corner, which eluded Petr
Cech and Ashley Cole on the goalline, revealed just how vulnerable
Chelsea can be when challenged. They demonstrated a damning absence of
invention when asked to chase the game.

Mourinho tried all his tricks, throwing on Joe Cole, Claudio Pizarro
and Salomon Kalou and even ordering Terry to go up front but to no
avail. By the time Joe Cole hit a post with a shot from the left it
was deep in injury time and Chelsea needed two goals for a point, not
one.

Chelsea's problem was a surfeit of scufflers: John Obi Mikel, Claude
Makelele and Michael Essien all deployed. Without Frank Lampard there
was no goal threat from central midfield, Drogba had one of his
petulant afternoons while Florent Malouda was largely anonymous and
Shaun Wright-Phillips lively but overanxious in front of goal. The
upshot was that Chelsea, for all their possession, did not look like
scoring. Villa, by contrast, were counterattacking chaos on toast.

While Carew battered the defence black and blue, Agbonlahor and Young
wreaked havoc down the flanks and Luke Moore was tireless in support.
Often, Chelsea's centre halves had no answer to the physical challenge
of Carew other than crude attempts to manhandle him, much to Martin
O'Neill's frustration. It could be argued that Villa rode their luck
when Martin Laursen made a similarly clumsy effort to stop
Wright-Phillips in the second minute and was fortunate not to concede
a penalty, but Chelsea more than got their own back as Villa pressed
on.

Alex never gained composure but even Terry looked uncomfortable. His
fitness is still an issue and neither centre half was anywhere near a
cross by Young in the 45th minute, which Ashley Cole cleared from his
goalline under pressure from Moore.

Ultimately, Young got his reward as the architect of the opening goal.
It was his shot from 20 yards, tipped over by Cech, that won Villa's
corner from which Knight scored.

A late second on the counter was always likely. It was rather a
splendid one, though, Young bursting down the left flank and whipping
in a cross that was rewarded by a first-time finish from Agbonlahor.

The best result for Villa under O'Neill? Undoubtedly. As for Chelsea,
they are two points worse off than at the same stage last season when
the grapevine began humming with news of Abramovich's dissatisfaction.
Yesterday, though, the empty seat said it all.

How they rated

Aston Villa 2 Knight 47, Agbonlahor 88

4-4-2 S Carson 7 O Mellberg 7 Z Knight 7 M Laursen 6 W Bouma 7 G
Agbonlahor Y 7 N Reo-Coker Y 7 G Barry Y 7 A Young 8 J Carew Y 7 L
Moore 7 Substitutes S Petrov (for Moore, 79min) Not used S Taylor, M
Harewood, C Gardner, S Maloney

Chelsea 0

4-4-2 P Cech 7 J Belletti 5 Alex 4 J Terry 6 A Cole 6 M Essien 6 C
Makelele 6 J O Mikel 5 F Malouda 5 D Drogba Y 5 S Wright-Phillips 6
Substitutes Kalou 6 (for Makelele, 63min), Pizarro 6 (for Mikel, 52),
J Cole 6 (for Wright-Phillips, 63) Not used C Cudicini, T Ben Haim

Referee: M Clattenburg

Attendance 37,714
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Telegraph;
Martin O'Neill plots Chelsea's downfall
By Henry Winter

Aston Villa (0) 2 Chelsea (0) 0

Martin O'Neill is a dervish of the dug-out, a manager who kicks every
ball with his team, so it is little surprise to find him fashioning an
Aston Villa side very much in his own playing image. Belief, hard work
and plenty of width characterise O'Neill's Villa, who boast a touch
more pace in their busy feet.

Such uplifting qualities, and goals from Zat Knight and Gabriel
Agbonlahor, brought Villa their first success over a top-four side in
three years, sending Chelsea spiralling to their first Premier League
defeat since January.

The Holte End shouted themselves hoarse with delight at the
embarrassment befalling John Terry and Chelsea, who simply could not
break down O'Neill's magnificent defence even when the visitors
switched to 3-2-5 late on. As loud as they were long, the hosts'
celebrations were thoroughly justified. Villa's owner, Randy Lerner,
sported a smile as broad as the Mississippi as the Holte End's songs
of praise rolled around this famous old ground.

Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, briefly held his head in his hands.
The Russian has not invested so heavily to be left so heavy-hearted,
yet he still went down to the dressing-room to console Terry and his
vanquished colleagues.

An unexpected loss should not dampen Chelsea's fire. Jose Mourinho's
side were all at sea at times yesterday, but only a fool would
scramble the life-boats simply because Terry, Didier Drogba and
company showed a rare weakness at defending and attacking corners.

Clearly missing Frank Lampard's vibrant movement and shooting, and
with two new defenders in Juliano Belletti and Alex needing to learn
the tricks of Terry's trade, Chelsea will be stronger next time out.
In a Premier League race of welcome openness, Chelsea will not be the
only ones to slip up on occasion.

advertisementIf only Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael Essien
impressed for the visitors, Villa were blessed with good individual
displays all over the pitch. Gareth Barry covered every yard of Villa
Park, looking every inch the inspirational captain and a genuine
midfield option for England.

O'Neill and his assistant, John Robertson, know all about wide men
influencing games from their Nottingham Forest playing days, and their
current charges, Ashley Young and Agbonlahor, almost wore grooves out
wide with their relentless running.

Young, all acceleration and ambition, will not be short of confidence
when reporting for England duty this evening. O'Neill has instilled
real belief in Villa's players and supporters.

Such fearlessness was thrillingly evident from the start. Agbonlahor
turned Terry and drew a fine save from Petr Cech. Barry was dominating
central midfield, spraying passes out to Young in particular.

Nigel Reo-Coker was putting in tackle after tackle, including one
thunderous dispossession of Florent Malouda.

Chelsea still had their chances, and should have been awarded a
penalty when Martin Laursen wrestled Wright-Phillips over. Opportunity
knocked for the visitors but was spurned. Wright-Phillips hit the
side-netting. Terry headed over.

Terry's moaning to officials began to enrage Villa Park. The Holte
End, at their raucous best, inquired "Have you won a European Cup?''
The fantastic atmosphere generated by the home support certainly kept
the adrenalin pumping through O'Neill's men.

Villa's determined mood seemed embodied by O'Neill removing his
track-suit top as the second half launched into life, as if signalling
a desire to get down to work.

His team certainly did. Within two minutes, Villa's persistence paid
off. Barry, a mix of tenacity in seeking the ball and composure in
using it, was predictably at the heart of the move that led to Villa's
opener.

Barry's pass to John Carew was perfectly judged, and the striker laid
the ball off to Young. The England aspirant's shot was clawed over by
Cech. From Barry's inswinging corner, Knight showed most appetite for
the ball, muscling between Drogba and John Obi Mikel to head
powerfully home.

Ashley Cole attempted to clear but could only divert the ball into the
roof of the net. Villa fans were also raising the roof as Knight,
Solihull born and bred, sprinted off around the ground, pausing to
high-five with O'Neill on the way.

Mourinho rang the changes, throwing more and more people into attack,
including Terry and Alex. Joe Cole worked hard to break Villa's
resistance, lifting in a corner that Terry headed over. Villa refused
to yield. Barry twice shrugged off Malouda. Reo-Coker put in a
wonderful tackle on Belletti. The noise intensified.

So did the siege. To push Chelsea back, O'Neill introduced the
delicate creative talents of Stilian Petrov, which was rather like
ushering Darcey Bussell into a game of 'Rollerball'. Petrov soon lost
possession but Salomon Kalou wasted the moment, shooting wide.

Villa were doing more with less. With two minutes remaining, Young
eluded Belletti, sprinted upfield and shot into the area where
Agbonlahor stuck out a leg to flick the ball past Cech.

Frustration ate deep into Chelsea. Joe Cole rolled a shot against a
post. Then Drogba went down, holding his knee, which Chelsea say may
require a scan today.

Man of the match

Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
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Indy:

Aston Villa 2, Chelsea 0: Chelsea exposed by Villa's sense of purpose
By Sam Wallace

Fourth place was not exactly what Roman Abramovich had in mind when he
agreed with Jose Mourinho that Chelsea needed to reinvent themselves
as the Premier League's most entertaining side. Beaten by Aston Villa
yesterday, and with a team struggling to score goals, Mourinho has a
lonely week ahead to contemplate just how his side are to re-launch a
season that went badly awry yesterday.

Abramovich himself, walked out of the directors' box seconds after
Gabriel Agbonlahor hit Villa's second goal with just two minutes
remaining for Chelsea's first Premier League defeat since January.

With John Terry playing centre-forward and the Chelsea defence in
tatters it was certainly entertaining – but not in the way that
Abramovich had hoped. That should take nothing away from Martin
O'Neill's side, who were relentless after coming under pressure in the
early stages and deserved their win.

There was a goal on his Villa debut from Zat Knight and, against a
Chelsea defence that never looked settled, a brilliant performance
from Ashley Young, included in Steve McClaren's England squad today,
on the left wing. To make it even worse for Mourinho, Didier Drogba
had to be helped from the pitch with a leg injury in the closing
minutes. Without Frank Lampard they never looked quite the same threat
in front of goal.

It looked very different in the early stages. In this brave new world
of Mourinho's, the winger is king and Shaun Wright-Phillips played in
the first half like a man who believes his time has come. Twisting and
skipping away from challenges and switching with Florent Malouda on
the opposite wing, he looked like a player who deserved to start for
England against Israel on Saturday. Bundled to the ground in the
earlier stages by Martin Laursen, Wright-Phillips might have been
given a penalty on another day.

It seemed a painful afternoon was in prospect for Laursen as Villa
struggled to contain Wright-Phillips in the opening stages. He skipped
away from the Villa defender on 13 minutes and hit a shot that Scott
Carson tipped wide. Knight had an unforgiving task marking Drogba, and
for the early stages of the first half, Chelsea looked like the side
Mourinho had promised in the summer: pacey, aggressive and built to
attack.

Villa, however, have wingers of their own and they resisted the early
pressure to gain a foothold in the game. In Gabriel Agbonlahor and
Ashley Young they have thrilling pace on the flanks although it was
John Carew in the centre whom Terry found the hardest to deal with.
The England captain is rarely outmuscled, but the Norwegian proved
difficult to dislodge with the ball at his feet.

It was a mistake from Alex, making his first Premier League start at
centre-back for Chelsea, that let in Villa for their second good
chance on 14 minutes. With the ball not properly cleared it fell to
Agbonlahor on the edge of the area who hit his shot straight at Petr
Cech. The England under-21 international had earlier picked up a ball
from the left from Young and, with Terry behind him, spun and hit a
shot that Cech did well to save.

The first half ended with Villa in the ascendance, and Chelsea's
defence increasingly uncertain. One ball into the box appeared to clip
Terry's hand, and in the closing stages, Ashley Cole had to head off
the line.

There is a rule set in stone at Mourinho's Chelsea that it is Drogba
who comes back to defend corners – and it is a plan that has served
them well over the past three seasons.

Two minutes into the new half, the Chelsea striker jogged back into
his own area to undertake his defensive duties and failed completely
to spot the run of Knight. The £3m signing arrived behind Drogba to
head the ball down past Cech.

It has been some eight days for the man signed from Fulham who played
at Villa Park the previous week for Fulham and was substituted at
half-time. His return to his native Birmingham looked like the ideal
way out of Fulham until his brother Carlos's house in Erdington was
raided by police – he was taken in for questioning and bailed – on the
morning Zat was presented as a Villa player. A goal on his debut was
the conclusion to an eventful few days.

Villa were proving worthy opposition for Mourinho, a frantic, hustling
gameplan that closed down Chelsea at every turn. Very soon Mourinho
called for Claudio Pizarro, sending on the Peruvian striker with such
urgency that John Obi Mikel was shouted at by his manager for not
coming off the pitch quickly enough. Very soon Joe Cole and Salomon
Kalou were also called upon, but Villa stood strong.

Young, who joins up with Steve McClaren's England squad today, looked
quick and direct against Juliano Belletti, the Brazilian from
Barcelona making his debut at right-back. However, it was Terry who
was sent back-pedalling as Young attacked the Chelsea box on 88
minutes. His sharply hit cross was tucked past Cech by Agbonlahor.

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Knight slays Chelsea as Abramovich exits early

Kevin McCarra at Villa Park
Monday September 3, 2007
The Guardian


It was the day when the Premier League season began to make good on
its promise. The expectation that the major clubs will have to endure
distress more frequently was fulfilled as a mediocre Chelsea, stifled
and stopped, were left last night as sullen occupiers of fourth place
in the table. All that rose steeply for the visitors was the
frustration that Martin O'Neill causes in them. This was Chelsea's
first defeat in the league since they were beaten 2-0 at Anfield in
January.

Jose Mourinho will have counted last season's pair of draws with Villa
as significant in the loss of the title and the nature of the match
should concern the Stamford Bridge club. Roman Abramovich was reported
at the weekend to be still dissatisfied with Mourinho's type of
football. There was compelling if circumstantial evidence for that
here in his sullen expression and early departure from his seat.
He did go to the dressing room and shook hands with the players when
Mourinho was elsewhere, conducting post-match interviews, but
solidarity is not synonymous with approval. While a fan with a
grievance might settle for composing poison-pen letters in his mind,
more profound steps are open to an owner.

The reported efforts of Abramovich to buy Ronaldinho, who dazzled with
Barcelona yesterday, were a radical reaction to the cautious
mediocrity that afflicts Chelsea now and again. It is an oddity that
Mourinho, in his fourth season at the club, should be treated as if he
were an unknown and rather dubious quantity.

The flaws at Villa Park are of the type known to exasperate a Chelsea
proprietor craving spectacle. There was scant indication of any
capacity in the side to respond to the opener from the debutant Zat
Knight. Perhaps Abramovich will revert to championing the return of
Andriy Shevchenko, who has been fit enough to represent Ukraine.

If England were looking for omens that Scott Carson can soon be their
preferred goalkeeper they were disappointed because he was not granted
many opportunities to shine, although he did put a Shaun
Wright-Phillips attempt round the post in the 13th minute. It
reflected well on Villa that mostly Carson was a bystander.

The game, in fairness to Chelsea, could have taken a very different
course. After two minutes, Martin Laursen manhandled Wright-Phillips
and Mark Clattenburg's refusal to award a penalty was perplexing.
Maybe referees, like some footballers, need time to warm up, but
Chelsea can hardly be asked to show understanding.

Chelsea, all the same, were toothless after Knight had put them
behind. The injured Frank Lampard was missed terribly and in a squad
of this value others should have compensated. While Wright-Phillips
did that for a while and Juliano Belletti, on his first start for
Chelsea, had some good moments there was no mood of mounting
inevitability.

Villa were resilient and, ultimately, deadly. O'Neill's selection was
intriguing, since it had a very adventurous air yet also required
those men of attacking intent to get behind the ball whenever Chelsea
were in possession. John Carew alone had the luxury of staying
upfield. As on too many occasions last season, the visitors' destiny
lay with Didier Drogba alone.

The striker is a phenomenon, yet he was just about shackled at Villa
Park. The efforts of Laursen epitomised the persistence when, in the
87th minute, he recovered to tackle Drogba after he seemed to have
broken away on the right. Moments later, defeat for Chelsea was
confirmed.

Ashley Young, the surprise selection in the England squad, at long
last had scope to run freely on Villa's left and his driven ball
across was turned into the net by Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa had not lacked encouragement. They found a defence, in which
Alex started for the first time, that was ill at ease. After seven
minutes, Agbonlahor was fed by Young and John Terry could not prevent
him from spinning to hit a drive that Petr Cech parried. Later Cech
would tip over an attempt by Young.

Villa's progress since the first-day defeat to Liverpool here was
remarkable, but Chelsea were more malleable material with which to
work. After 47 minutes, Gareth Barry's corner was headed in by Knight.
Ashley Cole might have cleared but he preferred the awkwardness of
kicking with his favoured left. That moment was a perfect image of
Chelsea's limitations yesterday.

Man of the match Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa)

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Mail:
Zat's the way to do it
Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 0
By MATT LAWTON

AS Zat Knight said, it has been a funny old week.
A week when Chelsea could, and perhaps should, have bought Ronaldinho.

A week that started with a sense of excitement but, judging by Roman
Abramovich's mood as he stormed out of the Villa Park directors' box
last night, ended with a deep sense of disappointment.

If ever a game demonstrated the value of wingers who provide width and
flair, this was it. If ever Abramovich has reflected on a business
meeting with some regret, it would have been the one he had with
Ronaldinho's brother last week.

How Chelsea could have used a player of Ronaldinho's ability against
Aston Villa. How Abramovich must wish those talks had concluded with
the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge.

How he would have cursed at the news of Ronaldinho's two goals for
Barcelona last night.

Chelsea could also have used Frank Lampard here yesterday, his absence
with injury a major reason why they failed even to threaten Villa's
goal after Knight opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

They did not manage a single effort on target after that, conceding a
second two minutes from the end. But Abramovich did not appear
prepared to accept any excuses.

He wants entertainment but again he was treated to a fairly dire
display. The same, of course, could not be said of the side Martin
O'Neill guided to what amounted to the most significant victory of his
Villa tenure.

They were terrific, using the pace and poise of Ashley Young and
Gabriel Agbonlahor to attack on the flanks and the sheer physical
presence of Knight to land the first blow.

For Knight, it has indeed been a funny old week. From the own goal he
scored here as a Fulham player the previous weekend to the events that
very nearly ruined his first day at his new club.

The armed police officers who carried out the drugs raid on Knight's
family home early on Wednesday morning certainly have a claim to fame
after this. Who did they arrest and then release on bail without
charge?

The bloke who traded handcuffs for a winning header against Chelsea
and did so by rising above Didier Drogba and Mikel John Obi to meet
Gareth Barry's corner.

Villa's second was more impressive and the product of wide rather than
remarkably tall men — Young leaving Juliano Belletti in his wake then
unleashing a shot that was guided in by the outstretched leg of
Agbonlahor.

It was all too much for Chelsea's Russian owner, the sight of his side
conceding a second convincing him it was time to go. Well, time to nip
down to the dressing room to see his beaten boys anyway.

Contrary to what Jose Mourinho dared argue afterwards, they were well
beaten. They might have deserved a first-half penalty for Martin
Laursen's foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips.

If Mark Clattenburg and his bosses on the Match Officials Board look
at it again and conclude it was a penalty perhaps they will call him
and 'offer an apology'.

But they were conquered by a team who attack the way Chelsea used to
attack when they had Arjen Robben on one wing and Damien Duff on the
other.

Even when Mourinho sent on his second-half substitutes they had no
effect. Claudio Pizarro, Joe Cole and Saloman Kalou were all unleashed
but Villa soaked up the pressure with ease.

Nigel Reo-Coker was a constant presence, providing protection to his
back four with a combative performance.

Mourinho would have been disappointed with his midfield. Claude
Makelele seemed to sit far too deep and Michael Essien failed to fill
the void left by Lampard. Mikel was also poor.

Most impressive, however, was Young, marking his call-up to Steve
McClaren's squad with a display that suggested it will not be long
before he is pushing for a place on England's left.

It was his cross which Agbonlahor volleyed to test Petr Cech at the
start and his shot which led to Barry's crucial corner.

Chelsea offered little in response and even less when Mourinho tried
to reshuffle, which must have been worrying for McClaren given that
Wright-Phillips was replaced with the equally ineffective Cole.

Painfully aware that the chance to return to the top of the Premier
League was slipping from his grasp, Mourinho abandoned all caution in
the end and left two at the back.

Young needed no more invitation than that, exploiting the vast space
behind Belletti with one neat touch and a surging run before driving
the ball across the face of the six-yard box and into the path of
Agbonlahor.

For O'Neill, perhaps here was revenge for the 2003 UEFA Cup Final
defeat when he was in charge at Celtic and Mourinho at Porto.

Revenge, in the Ulsterman's opinion, for the diving and dishonesty.
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Mirror:
JOSE'S KNIGHT TO FORGET
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE ASTON VILLA 2 CHELSEA 0 DEBUT BOY HITS
MOURINHO HOPES Zat's not the way you keep Roman happy as Villa batter
sloppy Blues
Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer Reports From Villa Park 03/09/2007

The last time Chelsea lost 2-0 in the league, Roman Abramovich was
ready to get rid of Jose Mourinho.

By the look on the Russian's face as he darted from the Villa Park
directors' box last night, not much has changed in the past eight
months.

Abramovich is known to be demanding more imagination, creativity and
excitement from Mourinho and his team this season - after all, you
don't spend £500million to be bored to death every weekend.

He certainly got the unexpected in the West Midlands, but not in the
manner he could ever have anticipated as Chelsea gave arguably their
most abject display since they lost at Middlesbrough two years ago.
While Mourinho's Chelsea are not about flair, they are usually about
grit and determination and will to win that allows them to overcome.

Yet, missing the injured Frank Lampard far more than was possibly
acceptable, all of those qualities were lacking. At Anfield in
January, Mourinho had all the excuses he could think of - no John
Terry or Ricardo Carvalho, Petr Cech returning in a helmet for the
first time, disruption all round.

But last night, as Martin O'Neill saw the last 14 months finally
coming together in 90 high-octane minutes, there were no excuses, no
justification.

A team as physically big as Chelsea cannot concede the simple
set-piece goal which allowed Zat Knight to make a dream debut back in
his home city.

They cannot lose shape and conviction so badly, to end the game with
desperation hoofs forward, to be so disorganised as they were when
Gabriel Agbonlahor finally brought profit from one of the terrific
Ashley Young's lung-bursting runs.

Mourinho's men looked disjointed, dispirited and plain wrong. Key to
that was the absence of Lampard's midfield energy, compounded by
Claude Makelele playing so deep he nearly required oxygen.

But then again, the Frenchman was only responding to the uncertain
Alex, the Brazilian looking over-priced at the nominal 50p Chelsea
paid to acquire his services from PSV Eindhoven, as Terry struggled
against John Carew.

At the same time, as Nigel Reo-Coker and Gareth Barry won the midfield
tussle with Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel, the zest of England
new-boy Young on the left and Agbonlahor on the right caused real
problems.

Agbonlahor demanded a good save from Cech, before twice embarrassing
Ashley Cole at the far post, while Wright-Phillips' raking shot from
20 yards after cutting inside Olof Mellberg was the only time Scott
Carson was tested.

Chelsea are a threat in the air but Terry and Alex failed to hit the
target from eight yards out, failures that were made to look all the
more damning when Knight did not make the same mistake at the start of
the second period.

Cech palmed Young's bending shot over the top but he could do nothing
as Knight out-muscled Didier Drogba to plant Barry's corner into the
net. Mourinho acted, sending on Claudio Pizarro for Mikel and
switching to four in the middle.

It gave Chelsea better definition, but no more conviction. Mourinho
then played his final cards, adding Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou to the
mix.

But Villa were resolute and two minutes from time, the young guns
combined, as Young skinned Juliano Belletti to scamper into the huge
hole behind the full-back, before his thrash across goal was diverted
beyond Cech by Agbonlahor's outstretched leg.

Abramovich's response was instant, leaving the director's box at a
rate of knots. It meant he did not see Joe Cole's shot come off the
post in added time. He had seen more than enough.

Villa: Carson 6, Mellberg 6, Knight 7, Laursen 7, Bouma 6, Agbonlahor
8, Reo-Coker 7, Barry 7, Young 8, Carew 7 (Petrov, 79, 6), Moore 6

Chelsea: Cech 7; Belletti 6, Alex 4, Terry 6, A Cole 7, Makelele 6
(Kalou 63, 6), Essien 6, Mikel 6 (Pizarro, 53, 6), Wright-Phillips 6
(J Cole, 63, 6), Drogba 5, Malouda 6 Ref: Mark Clattenburg
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Didier Drogba was guilty of such histrionics here, even if it looked
like a genuine knee injury that forced him to limp off at the end.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson 6; Mellberg 6, Knight 7, Laursen 8, Bouma
5; Agbonlahor 7, Reo-Coker 7, Barry 7, Young 7; Carew 6 (Petrov 79min,
5) Moore 6. Booked: Agbonlahor, Carew, Reo-Coker.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Belletti 5, Alex 6, Terry 6, Cole 5; Makelele
6 (Kalou 62, 5) Mikel 5, (Pizarro 53, 5) Essien 6; Malouda 5, Drogba
7, Wright-Phillips 6. (Cole 63, 5).

Man of the match: Martin Laursen.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

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Birmingham Post:

Vibrant Villa rip up the script Sep 2 2007

By Lisa Smith


BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

When Premier League form books were given out last month, someone
obviously omitted to give Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill a copy.

Here, his vibrant side cast aside Chelsea and all their statistics
with an incredibly brave display.

Prior to kick-off, fans had been told how the game was Chelsea's
chance to notch up their 1,500th Premier League win.

Chelsea, we were told, would also go back to the top of the table but
someone also forgot to remind the pundits that Chelsea hadn't won at
Villa Park for eight years.


And in the end, it was that latter statistic which was to be upheld at
the final whistle as O'Neill's young guns ruined the form guide and
snatched all three points.


Villa made two major changes from the side which beat Fulham last
week, debutant Zat Knight given a centre-back's role alongside Martin
Laursen, with Olof Mellberg moving to right-back.


Craig Gardner was the casualty while Stiliyan Petrov was also
relegated to the bench, with Luke Moore coming in alongside John Carew
up front.


And from the off, it appeared this was going to be a game played at
some tempo, with both goalkeepers being severely tested within minutes
of referee Mark Clattenburg signalling the start of play.


Just four minutes into the game, Michael Essien came close to opening
the visitors' account but his shot was deflected just past Scott
Carson's post and then Mellberg twice had to spare Villa's blushes as
Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda went close.


It was then Villa's turn to threaten with Wilfred Bouma — celebrating
his 50th game in a Villa shirt — making great strides on the left. He
threaded an inch-perfect pass through to Gabriel Agbonlahor who fired
straight at the Chelsea goal, only to force a fine save from Petr
Cech.


Carew then found space on the wing and fired the ball across the box,
but his pass-cum-shot was easily cleared by Essien and the rebounding
ball gathered safely by the keeper.


In the 12th minute, a Chelsea corner saw John Terry climbing highest
in the Villa penalty area but his effort just tipped over the roof of
the net and then Scott Carson had to dive at full strength to deny an
effort from Shaun Wright-Phillips.


Two minutes later and some neat trickery from Ashley Young — no doubt
eager to show just why England manager Steve McClaren is putting his
faith in him — forced Claude Makelele to clear his lines.


Mr Clattenburg was soon on the receiving end of some jibes from the
Holte End when Carew appeared to have been pulled back by John Terry
as he made a run for goal.


The official misread the situation and instead rewarded the free-kick
Chelsea's way, much to the derision of the Villa faithful.


In the 25th minute, great work by Young again opened up an opportunity
but the £9.5 million man's shot ended up over the crossbar. Carew then
forced Cech into making another save after good work from Mellberg,
before Ashley Cole headed away a Young effort but only as far as the
edge of the penalty area.


As the second half got under way, it was Villa who came out all guns
blazing, with Young having a fine floated effort just tipped over the
bar and then, as Villa won a corner, up stepped Knight to ensure his
dream debut.


The £3.5 million signing rose majestically above the visiting defence
to beat Cech. Ashley Cole, minding the far post, was powerless to
prevent the ball entering the net.


Just seven days after his own goal had helped Villa snatch three
points from his former club Fulham, so he made his giant presence felt
again as his goal sent the Villa Park stands into raptures.


By now, frustration was beginnign to show amongst Jose Mourinho's men
and Drogba earned little respect from the home fans when he feigned a
facial injury in a tussle with Moore to earn a free-kick.


Now it was Chelsea applying the heat as, time and again, they peppered
the Villa goal; time and again, though, the home defence was equal to
the task.


Mourinho then resorted to a double-substitution in a bid to try to win
the game, replacing Wright-Phillips with Joe Cole and Makele with
Solomon Kalou.


Cole immediately added to the mix, allowing Terry through for a header
which just dipped over Carson's bar and then forcing Knight to make a
couple of telling challenges.


O'Neill himself decided to try to close down Chelsea in midfield,
bringing on Petrov for Carew, but this was not a question of Villa
shutting up shop as they continued to seek the second goal which would
put the game out of Chelsea's reach.


With just three minutes left, Villa's bravery was rewarded when Ashley
Young got the better of Juliano Belletti, cut into the penalty area
and drove the ball across the goalmouth.


Agbonlahor's predatory connection speared the ball past Cech.


Scorers: Knight (47), Agbonlahor (87).
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Young,
Barry, Reo-Coker, Agbonlahor; Carew (Petrov, 80), Moore. Subs: Taylor,
Harewood, Gardner, Maloney.
Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; A Cole, Terry, Alex, Makelele (Kalou, 70);
Essien, Malouda, Obi (Pizarro, 48) Belletti, Drogba, Wright-Phillips
(J Cole, 70). Subs: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Bookings: Villa — Reo-Coker (foul), Agbonlahor (dissent), Barry
(foul), Carew (foul); Chelsea — Drogba.
Attendance: 37,714.
Villa man of the match: Martin Laursen — timely interventions as
Chelsea looked for a way through.