Aston Villa equalled a historic club record by securing their 11th consecutive victory with a stunning 2-1 comeback win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. Super-sub Ollie Watkins was the hero, scoring both goals in the second half to overturn a deficit and send the travelling fans into raptures.
Chelsea Dominate But Villa Hold Firm
The hosts started the brighter of the two sides, creating the first chance within two minutes as Cole Palmer fired a half-volley wide. Villa struggled to gain a foothold early on, with striker Donyell Malen isolated and managing just one touch in the opening 20 minutes. Chelsea's pressure told in the 37th minute when a Reece James corner was flicked home at the near post by João Pedro, giving the Blues a deserved lead at the interval.
Emiliano Martinez had kept Villa in the contest earlier with a strong save from Pedro, while at the other end, Morgan Rogers posed a sporadic threat. Chelsea came close to a second shortly after the restart, but John McGinn's vital intervention turned Alejandro Garnacho's effort wide.
Emery's Subs Spark Dramatic Turnaround
Seeking a route back into the game, Unai Emery made a triple change before the hour mark, introducing Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho, and Amadou Onana. The impact was immediate and profound. Just four minutes after entering the fray, Watkins levelled the scores. Played in by Morgan Rogers, his initial shot was saved by Robert Sanchez, but the rebound deflected off the striker and into the net.
The momentum had decisively shifted. Villa grew in confidence and began to create chances, with Ian Maatsen forcing another good save from Sanchez after being found by Rogers. The winner arrived with six minutes of normal time remaining. Youri Tielemans delivered a dangerous corner and Watkins rose highest to power a header past Sanchez, completing a remarkable turnaround.
Consequences and Suspensions Loom
The victory carries significant weight in the Premier League title race, keeping Villa within three points of leaders Arsenal ahead of a crucial meeting at the Emirates on Tuesday night. For Chelsea, the defeat leaves them 10 points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.
The win comes at a cost for Villa, however. Both Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season and will now serve one-match suspensions, ruling them out of the pivotal clash against Arsenal.
Player Ratings Summary: Emiliano Martinez (7), Matty Cash (7), Ezri Konsa (7), Victor Lindelof (7), Ian Maatsen (7), Boubacar Kamara (7), Youri Tielemans (7), John McGinn (6), Emi Buendia (5), Morgan Rogers (8), Donyell Malen (5). Substitutes: Ollie Watkins (9), Jadon Sancho (8), Amadou Onana (7).
