Half-time: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 1

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Eden Hazard’s early goal was enough to give Chelsea a half-time lead as Jose Mourinho looked to end his winless streak at Villa Park.

It took only eight minutes for the Blues to strike, as Oscar escaped down the right, pulled the ball back for Willian and his ball was turned in by Hazard.

Oscar had a near post shot saved by Villa keeper Brad Guzan, who also gathered Gary Cahill’s header from the resulting corner.

But Paul Lambert’s men, without a goal in their last six Premier League matches, did apply some pressure to the Blues defence, forcing several corners, and Gabby Agbonlahor headed over the bar.

Chelsea came close to adding a second when Hazard led a quick break and Ramires was played in on goal, only for Ciaran Clark to produce an outstanding recovery tackle.

With Diego Costa in the middle of a three-match ban, Didier Drogba started up front, while Cahill was restored to the defence alongside John Terry.

Kurt Zouma and Loic Remy were named on the bench along with new signing Juan Cuadrado.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Westwood, Delph, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Gil.
Subs: Given, Vlaar, Bacuna, Sinclair, Cole, Benteke, Sanchez.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Drogba.
Subs: Cech, Zouma, Ake, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Remy.

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