24/09/2005  Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1
 
Chelsea had gone through 640 minutes of Premiership football without concedinga single goal before 19-year-old Aston Villa striker Luke Moore sprung a major surprise just before half-time.

However, even though Lampard may have made a slow start to this campaign, he is clearly gaining momentum fast and struck a superb free-kick to level just before the interval.

The England international was not finished there. Although Chelsea were aggrieved at not being awarded a first-half penalty when Gareth Barry looked to have tripped John Terry, their resilience once again shone through.

Even if it was not a vintage Chelsea display, they kept on pressing forward, with three attacking players brought on as substitutes, and finally made the vital breakthrough with 15 minutes left as Lampard converted from the spot after Didier Drogba was brought down.

And so Chelsea have made it seven league wins out of seven, even if there could be an injury concern over Arjen Robben, who looked in pain as he went off injured ahead of their Champions League group tie away to Liverpool.

However, on Jose Mourinho's fifth anniversary of his first game as a manager, this result had proved rather more satisfying than his first - a 1-0 defeat for Benfica by Boavista - especially as Manchester United lost and Arsenal only drew.

Chelsea, who have been accused by some of 'boring' football, had not previously conceded a goal in the Premiership since the end of last season against Newcastle in May, when Geremi scored an own goal against Newcastle.

There was little threat of Aston Villa following suit for most of the first half, even if David O'Leary had boldly stuck with his 4-4-2 line-up despite the absence of Milan Baros and Kevin Phillips through injury.

Chelsea dominated possession from the start, albeit without ever looking entirely convincing Thomas Sorensen held onto Michael Essien's shot at the second attempt, while Robben's drive was deflected wide.

However, what really left Chelsea aggrieved was referee Barry Knight's failure to punish Barry for a trip on Terry just inside the penalty area on 33 minutes.

That prompted Mourinho into an exasperated reaction on the touchline and while Lampard's two long-range efforts were saved by Sorensen, his team were even more shocked to concede a goal just before the break.

Sorensen punted the ball downfield and when Juan Pablo Angel flicked it on, even Moore's first-time control did not look to have created an opening as Terry and Paulo Ferreira swiftly moved over to cover.

However, Ferreira looked to slip as the two defenders collided into each other and 19-year-old Moore took full advantage as he swivelled to shoot past Cech.

There was a sense of shock inside Stamford Bridge. Opponents are, after all, not supposed to actually score goals against this defence.

However, Chelsea immediately recovered as Michael Essien was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Lampard struck a superb free-kick through a gap in the defensive wall to leave Sorensen rooted to the spot.

Chelsea continued to threaten after the break, with Gallas heading Robben's deep free-kick over the bar when left unmarked, although Angel also flashed a shot narrowly wide.

However, Mourinho's patience ran out after just 54 minutes as he brought on Drogba and Shaun Wright-Phillips for Crespo and Carvalho, with Damien Duff moving to left-back and William Gallas into the centre of defence.

With Essien striking a chance over the bar and Wright-Phillips wasting a crossing opportunity on the break, it was only a few minutes before Eidur Gudjohnsen joined them in replacing Robben.

Chelsea continued to create half chances, with Duff's shot being tipped over the bar, while Drogba headed an inviting cross by Ferreira wide.

Mourinho was so keen to keep play flowing that he even bounded onto the pitch to retrieve a loose ball, but finally Mellberg was lured into fouling Drogba as he strode towards the Villa goal.

Lampard obliged from the penalty spot and Chelsea's superb start had continued. They may have looked human - but only briefly before normal service was resumed.