📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
The unrest at big-spending Chelsea has only continued to mount on Saturday evening, owing to another concerning defeat, on this occasion at the hands of Aston Villa.
The Blues, of course, marked their post-international break return to action a short time ago.
Fresh off a disappointing stalemate with Everton last time out, Graham Potter’s troops welcomed Unai Emery’s Villa to Stamford Bridge, eyeing a bounce-back result.
When all was said and done in west London, however, precisely the opposite went on to play out.
This came as, despite carving out a whole host of presentable opportunities over the course of the 90 minutes, Chelsea were ultimately condemned to the wrong side of a 2-0 result.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the clash, lobbing a fine finish over the onrushing Kepa Arrizabalaga after he and Mykhailo Mudryk had exchanged chances at both ends a short time earlier:
WATKINS!!! A simple chip over Kepa and Villa are in front! 🍟 pic.twitter.com/9TceydoXKe
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 1, 2023
On this occasion, it was John McGinn who proved difference-maker, latching onto Jacob Ramsey’s layoff on the edge of the penalty area to direct a deflected effort into the right-hand corner:
WHAT A STRIKE 😲⚡
John McGinn 👏 pic.twitter.com/aaDgViLWr5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 1, 2023
And this marked all she wrote when it came to the goalscoring at Stamford Bridge, as Aston Villa leapfrogged Chelsea in the Premier League table, amid mounting calls for Blues boss Graham Potter to be sent on his way.
Player ratings
Chelsea
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 4.5
Reece James – 6.5
Kalidou Koulibaly – 6
Marc Cucurella – 4
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 5
Enzo Fernandez – 6.5
Mateo Kovacic – 6
Ben Chilwell – 6
Joao Felix – 5.5
Mykhailo Mudryk – 4.5
Kai Havertz – 5.5
Substitutes: Noni Madueke – 5.5, N’Golo Kante – 6, Christian Pulisic – N/A, Conor Gallagher – N/A
Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez – 7.5
Ashley Young – 5.5
Ezri Konsa – 6
Tyrone Mings – 6
Alex Moreno – 6.5
Douglas Luiz – 6.5
Boubacar Kamara – 5
John McGinn – 8
Jacob Ramsey – 7.5
Emiliano Buendia – 5.5
Ollie Watkins – 7
Substitutes: Calum Chambers – 6.5, Leon Bailey – 6, Leander Dendoncker – N/A, Lucas Digne – N/A
Fan reaction
Cucurella has been better in recent weeks but to have Badiashile
On the bench and Cucurella on is criminal!— George Benson (@MrGeorgeBenson) April 1, 2023
Mudryk is just another Timo Werner in the name of a winger
— Anurag Gusain (@AnuragG88) April 1, 2023
Mudryk with the Werner esque miss, you killed the man but you didn’t kill the idea. pic.twitter.com/8KdxNxn9d8
— ᗯavess✞♉︎ (@waveofdavee) April 1, 2023
The wall
World Champion Emi Martinez is on pic.twitter.com/Gpq8U2J5sB— Tanim (@tanim078) April 1, 2023
“We have a plan. We will stick with the manager no matter how bad it gets!! You idiot!”
Chelsea fans in January.
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) April 1, 2023
Chambers on at CB for #AVFC in place of Kamara who was on a booking.
Looks like Emery is trying to tighten it up. Expect we’ll see a 5/6-man defence at times when Villa defend.— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) April 1, 2023
Kante came on just as the crowd were singing… “You don’t know what you’re doing…” Jeers turn to cheers. pic.twitter.com/doR7h95ES0
— Garry Hayes (@garryhayes) April 1, 2023
No player as good at diving, in the world, as Ashley young. That’s a foul, but boy does he sell it!
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) April 1, 2023
Chilwell is one of the #CFC players who doesn’t deserve to be on the losing side today.
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) April 1, 2023
IM GOING FUCKING BALD WATCHING THIS CAN WE FINISH ONE OF THESE CHANCES
— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) April 1, 2023
Basically we’re all watching the rest of this season for Enzo Fernández
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) April 1, 2023
Kepa and long shots? Don’t joke with that one, it’s cash money
— Mod (@CFCMod_) April 1, 2023
Kepa is terrible idc we have to sell him in the summer
— Raf (@CFCRaf2) April 1, 2023
Cucurella booed off again pic.twitter.com/TEJQk1UNyf
— CarefreeLewisG🇪🇹 (@CarefreeLewisG) April 1, 2023
“Sacked in the morning” going around at Stamford Bridge. Not from the away end.
— Oliver Todd (@oliver_todd) April 1, 2023
Empty seats and boos. #CHEAVL
— Chels HQ (@Chels_HQ) April 1, 2023
Can no longer defend this form. It’s time, Graham Potter must go. The task is too big for him. My patience is out. No more excuses.
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) April 1, 2023
Stat roundup
3 – Ollie Watkins is one of only three players to have hit double figures for goals in each of the last three Premier League seasons (10 in 2022-23), along with Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah. Repeat. pic.twitter.com/dXTMYNAx0f
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 1, 2023
⚽️ Ollie Watkins
▪️ First player to score in 5 successive away PL appearances for @AVFCOfficial
▪️ First Villa player to score 10+ PL goals in 3 successive seasons since Christian Benteke pic.twitter.com/oGqnbmLSAE— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 1, 2023
No player has won more duels (6), made more tackles (3) or completed more take-ons (2) than Jacob in Ramsey in the first-half. ✨#CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/GxdyaeWyPw
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 1, 2023
HT: Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
xG: 1.57-0.75
Shots: 14-3
Shots on target: 6-1
Possession: 69.8%-30.2%
Corners: 8-0Chelsea trail at the break. #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/pDlu8cWKYZ
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 1, 2023
⚽️ John McGinn has scored his 1st PL goal of the season with his 29th shot – before today only Mohamed Elyounoussi (30) had more shots without scoring in PL this season pic.twitter.com/4Q2PcMegEW
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 1, 2023
Aston Villa’s league form under Unai Emery:
WWLWDWWLLLWWDWW
They’ve scored in every single game under the Spaniard. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/DxenH2QNKe
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 1, 2023
After losing to Aston Villa it is now impossible for Chelsea to win the Premier League.
So close. 🤏 pic.twitter.com/EuEgLXXb4q
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 1, 2023
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