Half-time: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea were frustrated in a goalless first half at Villa Park after Nemanja Matic saw what looked like the opener ruled out.
The Serbian bundled in at the far post late in the half but Chelsea’s celebrations were cut short as referee Chris Foy chalked it off for handball.
The Blues looked the more likely to score, with recalled Brazilians Oscar and Willian both firing narrowly wide.
The fit-again Fernando Torres has impressed with his workrate but fired wastefully wide of the near post in his only clear sight of goal.
The home side’s best moments have come on the break, with Christian Benteke the focal point.
The big Belgian headed wide from Fabian Delph’s teasing cross and also fashioned a firmly struck volley just wide of Petr Cech’s far post.
After Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Hull earlier in the day, Chelsea will not be wanting to drop crucial points in the title race.
However Jose Mourinho also has one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League second leg at home to Galatasaray and has shuffled his pack, with Samuel Eto’o, Frank Lampard and Andre Schurrle dropping out.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. Subs: Schwarzer, Kalas, Mikel, Lampard, Schurrle, Salah, Ba.
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