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Cech - Win keeps up pressure

Image: Petr Cech: Delighted to beat Aston Villa and stay in touch with Arsenal and Tottenham

Petr Cech has expressed his delight after Chelsea beat Aston Villa to stay in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Chelsea keeper thrilled with victory over Villa

Petr Cech has expressed his delight after Chelsea beat Aston Villa 4-2 on Saturday to stay in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Blues had appeared to be cruising to victory before being pegged back to 2-2 by two goals in the space of a few minutes late in the second half. Branislav Ivanovic immediately restored Chelsea's advantage before Fernando Torres completed the scoring, and Cech admits it was a relief to emerge triumphant. Roberto Di Matteo's men remain five points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places at the end of the weekend after Tottenham beat Swansea, but Arsenal's defeat by Queens Park Rangers has brought all three teams closer together. "It's great that we have managed to win," the goalkeeper said on his own official website. "Moreover, Arsenal lost so we came a bit nearer to them. "It would have been even better if Tottenham had dropped points too, but that did not happen." Cech acknowledges that Chelsea found thsemlsves in a battle after Villa had drawn level thanks to goals from James Collins and Eric Lichaj. "At that moment the home crowd were roaring and it spurred Villa on. Fortunately, we managed to restore the lead right afterwards from a corner kick and in additional time Fernando scored beautifully from a counter-attack," he said.

Petrov wish

It was an emotional afternoon in the Midlands as Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov watched his team-mates from the stands a day after it had been announced that he is suffering from acute leukaemia. Cech hopes Petrov will recover, adding: "Obviously you could sense it in the atmosphere at the stadium. "Petrov is one of the most popular Villa players so they had enormous motivation to win it for him. "What happened to him is a huge tragedy and we all wish him a successful fight in the most difficult match of his career."

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