FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE - Chelsea's miserable start to the 2023/24 season continued with a 1-0 loss at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Blues looked bright in spells at Stamford Bridge but ultimately couldn't find a way through and fell to a third Premier League defeat of the season.
Aston Villa stifled their hosts, who were reduced to ten men early in the second half, and withstood pressure from minute one to take the points back to the West Midlands.
How the game unfolded
Though Chelsea controlled the opening stages of the game, they nearly fell behind when Lucas Digne hit a sweet volley from 20 yards after meeting a clearance from a corner, with Robert Sanchez producing a flying save.
The hosts' first chance came when Mykhailo Mudryk picked out Nicolas Jackson with a cleverly-disguised passed between the Aston Villa backline, but Emi Martinez made a smart save at his near post to deny the Senegal striker.
Chelsea went close again when Malo Gusto picked out Enzo Fernandez with a cut-back, only for the Argentine to lean back while shooting and fire mercifully over.
Sanchez again came to Chelsea's rescue from a corner, this time throwing up a strong hand to tip over Nicolo Zaniolo's volley.
Axel Disasi had the ball in the net just before the break after meeting a deep cross from Raheem Sterling, but the flag was immediately raised for offside and Chelsea were denied an opener.
After the break, Thiago Silva sent Sterling scampering away with a perfectly-weighted ball over the top of Digne, but Martinez was again on hand at his near post to keep the hosts out.
Chelsea were reduced to ten men just before the hour mark when Malo Gusto was sent off for a lunging challenge on Digne, with the Frenchman dismissed following a VAR check.
With just over 15 minutes to go, Villa took the lead. The visitors pounced on a loose touch from Silva, with Moussa Diaby releasing Ollie Watkins, who ran at Levi Colwill and finished off the post from a tight angle.
Almost immediately from the resulting kick-off, Ben Chilwell should have levelled the scores having scampered away on the break, but Martinez was on hand to deny him.
Sanchez kept Chelsea from going further behind by getting a two-handed punch to Jacob Ramsey's curling strike from the edge of the box as the hosts found themselves stretched heading into the final minutes.
Villa's win was confirmed at the end of 11 minutes of added time, taking 12 points from their opening six Premier League games this season. Chelsea, however, have still only chalked up one victory and remain mired in the bottom half.
Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sanchez - 6/10 - Kept Chelsea within touching distance with some top saves though could have done better for Watkins' goal.
RB: Malo Gusto - 4/10 - The game changed on an honest and full-blooded but rash tackle. Young and will learn but it put Chelsea under the cosh.
CB: Axel Disasi - 6/10 - Shifted over to right-back after Gusto was sent off. Got forward with adventure despite his lack of obvious attacking quality.
CB: Thiago Silva - 6/10 - Supreme for the most part until a loose touch allowed Villa to take the lead.
LB: Levi Colwill - 5/10 - Another performance suggesting Colwill should exclusively play at centre-back, offering little to attacks. Kept McGinn quiet at least.
CM: Moises Caicedo - 5/10 - Some neat touches and darting runs to evade pressure but was equally sloppy and distracted by the chaos of the day.
CM: Conor Gallagher - 5/10 - Enjoyed the high-intensity start but failed to provide control or a threat in the box.
RM: Raheem Sterling - 6/10 - Enjoyed running at and beyond Digne but couldn't translate this endeavour into goals.
AM: Enzo Fernandez - 5/10 - Showed flashes of real quality and awareness on the ball but didn't get on it enough to have a meaningful impact.
LM: Mykhailo Mudryk - 6/10 - Positive in possession and attacked space well. Sacrificed when Chelsea were reduced to ten men.
CF: Nicolas Jackson - 4/10 - Has now managed to accrue five bookings for dissent already this season and will now serve a one-match suspension. Lacked any real menace in front of goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Ben Chilwell (60' for Mudryk) - 6/10
SUB: Cole Palmer (68' for Fernandez) - 6/10
SUB: Lesley Ugochukwu (68' for Jackson) - 5/10
SUB: Armando Broja (79' for Caicedo) - 5/10
Subs not used: Bergstrom (GK), Petrovic (GK), Cucurella, Maatsen, Washington
Manager
Mauricio Pochettino - 5/10 - Chelsea had a real zip about them when it was 11-v-11 but they still don't have a clinical edge.
Aston Villa player ratings (4-4-2)
GK: Emi Martinez - 8/10 - A commanding performance between the sticks. Chelsea forwards shrank in his presence.
RB: Matty Cash - 7/10 - Endured a fascinating duel up against the speedy Mudryk. Proved a useful outlet breaking into the final third.
CB: Ezri Konsa - 8/10 - Got his head on every cross and his body behind most shots. A heroic showing.
CB: Pau Torres - 6/10 - Recovered from a shaky start to assert himself, though did lose an aerial duel to Sterling which is a bit of a concern.
LB: Lucas Digne - 6/10 - Didn't have a lot of joy when isolated with Sterling but that was understandable. Kept his cool when Chelsea were on top.
RM: John McGinn - 6/10 - Often shifted centrally and sometimes swapped places with Diaby to try and pull Chelsea apart.
CM: Boubacar Kamara - 8/10 - Got stuck in and was often Villa's chief creator, excelling at both ends of the pitch.
CM: Douglas Luiz - 8/10 - Simply superb. Broke up play and quashed Chelsea's midfielders.
LM: Nicolo Zaniolo - 6/10 - Helped Villa out of some tricky spots with his mazing dribbles but didn't threaten them enough where it mattered most.
CF: Moussa Diaby - 7/10 - Quiet for the most part but came alive on the counter, assisting Watkins' winner.
CF: Ollie Watkins - 8/10 - Likewise isolated for a lot of the game when Chelsea had the ball but picked and chose his moments well.
Substitutes
SUB: Jacob Ramsey (75' for McGinn) - 6/10
SUB: Leon Bailey (75' for Zaniolo) - 5/10
SUB: Youri Tielemans (81' for Diaby) - 5/10
SUB: Leander Dendoncker (90' for Kamara) - N/A
SUB: Jhon Duran (90' for Watkins) - N/A
Subs not used: Olsen (GK), Chambers, Lenglet, Kellyman
Manager
Unai Emery - 7/10 - Villa made it incredibly hard for Chelsea to have their own way, which is impressive considering the hosts did not play in midweek.
Player of the match - Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
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This article was originally published on 90min as Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa: Player ratings as ten-man Blues fall to another defeat.
