Chelsea Rocked At Villa Park

STON VILLA 2-0 CHELSEA

Jose Mourinho had yet to win at Villa Park, and that poor record has been extended further as Martin O'Neil's boys put in a determined display to pick up a glorious win over Chelsea.

Aston Villa picked up a deserved 2-0 win over Chelsea at Villa Park, with Zat Knight and Gabriel Agbonlahor grabbing the goals.

Knight shrugged off Didier Drogba to head in Aston Villa's first in the 54th minute, and then did superbly well in defence as Chelsea attempted a comeback.

After withstanding pressure, Villa wrapped it up in sensational style two minutes from time.

Ashley Young used his great pace to run directly at the Chelsea defence, before firing a fierce low effort that was deflected in by Agbonlahor.

Despite enjoying most of the possession, Chelsea could not break down Aston Villa's heroic defence, and goalkeeper Scott Carson was rarely called upon to make a serious save.

Late substitute Joe Cole shaved the outside of the post in injury time, and skipper John Terry had two headers from corners onto the roof of the net.

But Villa made the most of their relatively few chances. Debutant Zat Knight headed them into a lead immediately after the start of the second half from one of their two corners throughout the match.

And on 88 minutes, Gabriel Agbonlahor thumped home a second as he connected with Ashley Young's powerful low cross-shot from the left.

Young had left Belletti for deasd on the touchline before racing in on the stretched Chelsea defence as Villa made the most of another pressure-relieving breakaway.

The result means Chelsea's poor sequence at Villa Park continues, but it was a dream debut for Knight, born a stone's throw from the ground and a supporter of Villa all his life.

Chelsea threw everything at Villa in the final half-hour but they found Villa's defence in utterly determined mood.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Mourinho who has still yet to win on this ground. But as a spectacle it was compelling stuff, and certainly the Villa fans loved it all.

Villa were up against formidable opponents but were also clearly up for the challenge. Agbonlahor shot on the turn forced an early save from Petr Cech but Chelsea were generally bossing the game, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda both firing in long-range efforts.

John Terry headed over and Shaun Wright-Phillips had a shot turned round the post by Carson, but at the other end Young, Agbonlahor, John Carew and Luke Moore made sure Chelsea's defence could not relax for a minute.

Martin Laursen and Knight were immense at the back but Drogba was always threatening, without ever making the breakthrough.

Wright-Phillips, looking lively, fired into the side-netting, but Chelsea had a scare just before half-time when Young's cross was cleared by Ashley Young, but only as far a Barry. Moore got in his way as he attempted an overhead kick.

Within a minute of the second-half, Young had a shot tipped over by Cech and from Barry's corner Knight beat Drogba in the air to open the scoring, despite Ashley Cole's attempt to clear on the line, which only helped the ball into the roof of the net.

It was a second goal in successive games for £3.5m new signing Knight. He netted an own goal for Villa playing for Fulham at Villa Park a week ago.

Mourinho sent on Claudio Pizarro, then Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou were introduced.

But, although enjoying a lot of possession, Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Terry headed over from another of their 13 corners, and Kalou shot wide from a decent position, but they left themselves stretched and Young and Agbonlahor took full advantage with two minutes plus injury time to go.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Moore, Carew. Subs: Taylor, Harewood, Petrov, Gardner, Maloney.

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Essien, Malouda, Obi, Drogba. Subs: Cudicini, Joe Cole, Pizarro, Kalou, Ben-Haim.