Sat 21st Nov - Turf Moor
By Vasek Kadlec Last updated: 6th October 2008
Cech: Villa surprise
Petr Cech has admitted that Chelsea were shocked by how easily they beat Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Czech goalkeeper was largely untroubled as the Premier League leaders cruised to a 2-0 success over Villa, who many thought could bring to an end Chelsea's amazing four-and-half-year unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.
Cech revealed that Chelsea were expecting a tough test against high-flying Villa, who had previously enjoyed a good record against the Blues, but the anticipated threat never emerged.
"We played out a great game, from the first minute there was only one team on the pitch," Cech told his own website.
"Unambiguously, we deserved to win and could have scored even more goals.
"With regards to the previous encounters with Aston Villa, we expected a very difficult game.
"Eventually, it was not that difficult, also because we played really well."
Cech also believes the foot injury to team-mate Joe Cole, who misses England's World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Belarus, is not too serious.
"We believe that it will not be a serious injury and that he will recover over the international break," Cech added.
Cech is linking up with the Czech national squad ahead of their qualifiers against Slovenia and Poland and will travel to Prague on Monday.

Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Thompson
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Coyle
Warnock on England
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - Nicholas
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - Zola
Injury woes worry O'Neill
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Stoke |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Aston Villa vs West Ham |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Aston Villa |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Fulham | |
| Thursday 27th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Rapid Vienna | |
| Monday 24th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa | |
| Thursday 20th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Rapid Vienna 1 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fiorentina | |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Oxford Utd 2 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Juventus 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 25 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
Pictures from Saturday's action where Liverpool draw with Man City and Arsenal lose away.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Preston North End fan Hazel Fox was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was delighted to see Stewart Downing make his debut for the club.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
Martin O'Neill felt Aston Villa were good value for their 1-1 draw away at Burnley on Saturday.
Aston Villa left it late before securing a 1-1 draw against Burnley at fortress Turf Moor on Saturday.
Milan Jovanovic's agent has played down speculation that the Serbia star could be on the move in January.