Latest: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 1 – Hazard puts Blues ahead

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Eden Hazard’s early goal put Chelsea ahead 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.

Chelsea looked fairly comfortable in the opening 20 minutes against a Villa side without a goal in six Premier League games.

But Paul Lambert’s men did apply some pressure to the Blues defence, forcing several corners, and Gabby Agbonlahor headed over the bar.

At the other end, Villa keeper Brad Guzan blocked a near post shot from Oscar, and then gathered a header from the resulting corner.

With Diego Costa in the middle of a three-match ban, Didier Drogba started up front, while Gary 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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