Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
by Amar Azam
at Stamford Bridge

This was a timely return to winning ways for Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea side on Saturday afternoon.

Diego Costa, returning from a domestic ban, was involved in the two goals, both of which benefited from a huge slice of good luck.

This hadn’t been the most convincing of performances. Chelsea fans, however, would have been pleased that their team had made it beyond Tim Sherwood’s struggling Aston Villa side, especially given a rotten run of bad form.

Costa claimed the first goal after a goalkeeping error from Brad Guzan in the first half, with the Spanish striker seeing a shot deflect in off defender Alan Hutton after the interval.

Chelsea had returned to action following the international break 16th in the league but this victory meant that they completed the weekend in a more comfortable position. Importantly, they remain 10 points behind table-topping Manchester City.

However, Mourinho was left justifying his decision to leave out Eden Hazard from the starting line-up.

“I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals,” said Mourinho. “It was a tactical decision. We needed midfield players to be concerned with being solid.

“I continue that way [leaving Hazard out] or he comes in our direction and tries to play that way.”

Mourinho was full of praise for his attackers as Chelsea clinched just their first win in three matches.

“Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work and allowed the midfield players to be very comfortable,” he added. “I continue that way, or he [Hazard] comes in our direction and tries to replicate the same work that Willian and Pedro did.”

Chelsea face a tricky trip to Kiev in the Champions League this week, before travelling to London rivals West Ham United on Saturday.

For the visitors, they need to arrest this slide. And fast. “As a manager, you need to win matches,” said Villa manager Sherwood. “If you don’t you’ll invariably lose your job somewhere along the line. I’ll take my share of responsibility but it’s a team effort. We stick together.”