21/08/1999  Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 1 

Playing at Stamford Bridge is a useful benchmark for any 
side's credentials and Aston Villa were again just found 
wanting as Chelsea proved they are still a march ahead of 
pretenders wishing to join the Premiership big three.

Just like last season Villa arrived at Stamford Bridge at 
the top of the table, this time level on points with 
Manchester United, but they succumbed to Gianluca Vialli's 
side for the second season running.

Keeping the momentum of a good start to the season going is 
always hard when you keep on shooting yourselves in the foot, 
and while they improved on last season's 2-1, 4-1 and 3-0 
defeats at the hands of the Blues, this time they gifted 
victory to their hosts.

The winning goal seven minutes after the break came 
courtesy of Ugo Ehiogu as Villa scored their second own goal 
in the space of just five days.

Ehiogu had himself been guilty of a weak defensive header 
which fell to Dan Petrescu but his shot appeared to be heading 
just wide of the far post until the centre-back stretched out 
a boot and marginally deflected the ball just inside the 
upright.

With Gareth Southgate having similarly conceded an own goal 
against West Ham last Monday night, Villa only have themselves 
to blame.

But then Chelsea still deserved this victory as they 
created by far the best chances of the game and had a clear 
appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Neale Barry in the 
first half.

Villa had nevertheless started confidently, with recalled 
midfielder Lee Hendrie striking a speculative early 
half-volley just over the bar.

The visitors also threatened just before the break when 
goalkeeper Ed De Goey produced a wonderful reaction save to 
parry a powerful header by Ehiogu as he rose unchallenged to 
meet a corner by Alan Thompson.

But while the visitors contested every challenge with 
fierce determination, with a fascinating battle between 
Hendrie and Jody Morris in central midfield, it was Chelsea 
who certainly shaded the first half.

They had a number of openings to take the lead but Petrescu 
twice lobbed his shot over the bar when put clean through as 
keeper David James just did enough to put him off, and Gustavo 
Poyet horribly miscued another effort.

James also tipped a free-kick from Gianfranco Zola out for 
a corner and saved a close-range header from the Italian 
striker.

But there was no doubting the most controversial moment of 
the game when referee Barry remained unmoved against strong 
Chelsea appeals for a penalty after 26 minutes.

At first sight Ehiogu appeared to trip Zola as the striker 
attempted to go past him in the penalty area and television 
replays only served to add further weight to the idea that the 
Blues had been harshly treated.

Frank Leboeuf was able to resume after lengthy treatment 
for a knee injury sustained when Dion Dublin accidentally 
landed on his leg but Chelsea were still finding it tough to 
break down Villa at the start of the second period.

That was until the home side finally managed to break the 
deadlock - even if it was due to a slice of good fortune with 
Ehiogu's own goal.

Chelsea were re-energised and began flooding forward in 
numbers, with Chris Sutton striking an overhead kick just over 
the bar and Poyet going even closer with a diving header that 
went just inches wide.

Villa managed to regroup and threw on Paul Merson and Steve 
Stone to replace Thompson and Colin Calderwood to spice up 
their attacking options in a 4-4-2 formation.

Flo and Bjarne Goldbaek also came on for Chelsea to replace 
Sutton, who had again battled hard with little reward, and 
Petrescu.

But however hard Villa searched for an equaliser they never 
had the guile or creativity in midfield to create the chances 
to break down Chelsea's solid and experienced back four.

This may not have been such a display of attacking flair by 
the Blues as their 4-0 victory against Sunderland on the 
opening day of the season.

But perhaps just as importantly they made it clear that 
they have the steel and determination to push Arsenal and 
United right to the wire.

Villa, like the rest of the Premiership, are clearly still 
playing catch-up.