Chelsea stayed top and unbeaten thanks to a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Cole and Anelka goals seal win
Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Blues were masterful in the first-half and Joe Cole deservedly put them in front on 21 minutes from a Frank Lampard pass.
The goal came as the Blues pushed down the left and worked the ball to Lampard in the middle who in turn fed it through to Cole on the right of the box and he made no mistake.
They then doubled their advantage a minute before half-time after another great move down the left.
Ashley Cole pulled the ball back from near the by-line to Michael Ballack in the middle who unleashed a powerful shot which Brad Friedel could only parry and Nicolas Anelka tucked away the rebound.
Villa were better in the second period but Chelsea coasted to a win which keeps them top.
Friedel's busy afternoon in goal for Villa started with two early saves.
The first effort was from Michael Ballack, who fizzed a drive from 25 yards, then Florent Malouda had a go from the left flank at a similar distance.
Frank Lampard had the first clear opening of the game, in the 18th minute, when Anelka found him with a cross, only for the England midfielder to head wide.
Opener
Lampard, however, set up the opener three minutes later after Curtis Davies' clearance fell to Malouda. Malouda slipped the ball inside to Lampard, who in turn helped it on to midfielder Cole.
Cole took one touch and lashed his finish past Friedel and inside the near post, his third of the season.
Anelka could have doubled the lead when he cracked a drive from 30 yards but his effort smashed against the crossbar - starting the onslaught on Friedel's goal.
The American goalkeeper parried a Lampard free-kick and also denied Malouda with another skidding drive.
He also made a double save in the 43rd minute, but could not prevent Anelka tapping in the rebound. Ashley Cole had crossed from the left, Ballack's drive and Anelka's follow up were saved - but the Frenchman made sure with his next effort.
It was Anelka's last contribution as he was taken off at the break for Di Santo, while Villa took off Davies and Luke Young, with James Milner and Carlos Cuellar coming on.
Stiliyan Petrov did have an effort saved by Petr Cech - but then there was more attacking from Chelsea.
Worry
Worryingly for England boss Fabio Capello, who was watching from the stands, was the sight of Terry dropping his shorts for treatment on his back.
Then midfielder Cole picked up his apparent foot injury and hobbled down the tunnel, with Salomon Kalou taking his place.
Wastefulness from Ballack at close range, then a brave block from Friedel to deny Kalou, kept the score down. Kalou also had an overhead striker disallowed for offside - and another goal would not have flattered the hosts.
| Chelsea |
Team Statistics |
Aston Villa |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 14 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 13 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 8 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 7 |
Corners |
1 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 88.1 |
Passing Success |
74.6 |
| 15 |
Tackles |
24 |
| 86.7 |
Tackles Success |
83.3 |
| 60.7 |
Possession |
39.3 |
| 59.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
40.7 |
|
