Aston Villa prolonged their outstanding successful run with an outstanding comeback at Stamford Bridge.
Ollie Watkins got here off the bench to attain twice as Aston Villa got here from behind to say an eleventh straight win in all competitions and additional their inconceivable Premier League title aspirations with a 2-1 win at Chelsea.
Villa have been comfortably second finest within the first half at Stamford Bridge and have been lucky to solely path by a single aim, which got here courtesy of a Joao Pedro end he knew little about.
However the introduction of Watkins simply shy of the hour mark turned the sport in Villa’s favour, his effort inside 4 minutes of his introduction restoring parity.
And 6 minutes from the top of regular time he headed dwelling from a Youri Tielemans nook to make sure Villa will go into Tuesday’s sport with Arsenal, whom they beat at Villa Park earlier this month, simply three factors shy of the league leaders.
Chelsea power Emery into motion
Chelsea have been completely dominant within the first half, with Cole Palmer flashing broad from the sting of the realm early on earlier than Enzo Fernandez wasted a gilt-edged alternative on the finish of a wonderfully labored transfer and Pedro was denied by Emi Martinez.
Reece James fired narrowly broad from lengthy vary, however his dead-ball supply was instrumental in breaking the impasse, with Martinez unable to forestall it from nestling within the internet by way of the slightest of touches from Pedro.
VAR didn’t agree with Villa claims that Martinez was obstructed by Pedro as he tried to take care of the cross, and it seemed to be solely a matter of time earlier than they fell additional behind.
John McGinn needed to produce some sensible defending to forestall Alejandro Garnacho from tapping in on the again submit from a Palmer supply, and Martinez needed to claw away a cross-cum-shot from James, with Chelsea’s constant stress forcing Unai Emery into motion.
Watkins turns the tide
Watkins, Sancho and Amadou Onana have been thrown on in a triple substitution that quickly paid dividends.
Rogers performed a wonderful move into Watkins, whose low end squirmed beneath Robert Sanchez, and the Chelsea goalkeeper was by far the busier of the 2 thereafter.
He was required to repel efforts from Ian Maatsen and one other from Watkins earlier than Rogers bent a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
There was nothing Sanchez might do to forestall Watkins from finishing the turnaround as he meet Tielemans with an unstoppable header to tug Villa inside putting distance of Arsenal forward of their mouthwatering conflict in North London in three days’ time.
