Super sub Ollie Watkins seals stunning turnaround away at Chelsea

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores his team's second goal

In a game of two halves, Aston Villa came from behind to earn a 2-1 win against Chelsea in the Premier League (PL), recording the third win from their last four visits to Stamford Bridge in the process.

A dinked Mois9s Caicedo pass and masterful Cole Palmer touch opened up the game’s first chance for the latter just two minutes into proceedings, but he fired wide.

While Morgan Rogers made the occasional break going the other way, BenoEt Badiashile tackled him in the box and the hosts remained in control of the play.

The Blues were quicker to almost every ball, and one interception started a move that culminated in Alejandro Garnacho cutting the ball back for an attempt that Enzo Fern1ndez guided wide.

Caicedo and Palmer then saw a shot apiece blocked by Youri Tielemans, while Emiliano MartDnez remained alert as he spread himself to stop Jo3o Pedro’s flick when eventually called upon in the 24th minute.

Despite the score staying level, there was disappointment for the visitors as Matty Cash’s challenge on Garnacho earned the right-back a yellow card that means he misses the match against Arsenal.

After Reece James had sent a strike bouncing wide, he delivered the corner that Pedro got the finest of touches on to finally break the deadlock in the 37th minute. Palmer then had a strike saved and John McGinn’s tame free-kick at the other end was dealt with before the break.

It was far more of a contest after the restart, with Rogers and Emiliano BuendDa being denied either side of James’ effort forcing a brilliant save from MartDnez.

Garnacho then curled a shot wide before Emery took action with a triple change as the hour mark approached, and Ollie Watkins soon slid the ball through for Boubacar Kamara but Robert S1nchez rushed out to stop the Frenchman.

There was no denying Watkins, though, as his shot bounced off the goalkeeper and back onto him before going in.

S1nchez was soon back in action to save a venomous Ian Maatsen shot before Chelsea responded with a triple change of their own.

Watkins still continued to cause problems and, even though there was the blow of losing Kamara against Arsenal due to a yellow card, Watkins popped up again to guide an 84th-minute header inside the post to earn Aston Villa’s 11th consecutive victory to keep them within three points of the PL leaders.

Match stats

Chelsea’s first defeat in four matches across all competitions leaves them fifth for now.

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