By
the time the final whistle arrived dozens of paper airplanes littered
the sidelines of Villa Park. On them read the words: ‘Proud History,
What Future?’ Fired down from the stands, they seemed symbolic of the
trajectory this club in on.
They
had been held aloft in protest by thousands in the 74th minute – Villa
were formed in 1874 – and this performance was further evidence of why
deep concern surrounds a team that may well struggle in the Championship
next season.
Easily
beaten by a Chelsea team already on their holidays, Villa are
desperately in need of manager who can carry out the extensive surgery
required.
Alexandre Pato wields away in celebration having scored his first goal for the west Londoners on debut against Aston Villa
The Brazilian striker (right) hit this penalty past the reach of Brad Guzan to send Chelsea 2-0 ahead on the stroke of half-time
The 26-year-old striker, on loan from
Brazilian club Corinthians seemed to be elated by firing himself onto
the scoresheet on Saturday
Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek (centre) latched onto a cut back to slot home the opening goal for the visitors
The Chelsea squad celebrate during an emphatic victory for Guus Hiddink's side at relegation threatened Aston Villa
Spain international Pedro (centre) salutes the travelling Chelsea fans having scored a second-half brace for the west Londoners
MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM THE MATCH AT VILLA PARK
Aston Villa (4-3-3):
Guzan 4; Hutton 4, Richards 5, Lescott 5, Cissokho 4; Gana 5.5 (Lyden
83’), Sanchez 5.5 (Bacuna 66), Westwood 6; Gil 4 (Grealish 66’ 6),
Gestede 5, Ayew 6.5
Subs not used: Bunn, Okore, Sinclair, Veretout
Booked: Gana, Sanchez, Westwood
Sent off: Hutton
Manager: Eric Black 5
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois
6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Miazga 6.5, Ivanovic 6.5, Rahman 7; Mikel 7,
Fabregas 7; Pedro 7.5 (Clarke-Salter 74’ 6), Loftus-Cheek 7.5, Kenedy
6.5 (Oscar 46’ 7); Remy 5 (Pato 23’ 8)
Subs not used: Begovic, Falcao, Traore, Matic
Scorers: Loftus-Cheek 26, Pato 45+3, Pedro 46, 59
Booked: Fabregas
Manager: Guus Hiddink 8
Ref: Neil Swarbrick
Att: 31,120
Here is how Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired Chelsea in front. Click here for more graphics, heat maps and stats from our match zone.
The
supporters have truly turned on the players ‘not fit to wear the
shirt’. Brad Guzan, Aly Cissokho, Joleon Lescott and Leandro Bacuna all
received specific abuse. There were ironic cheers when Cissokho managed
to clear the ball late on as a banner reading ‘No fight. No pride. No
effort. No hope.’ fluttered in the background.
Five
minutes from the end Alan Hutton was sent off for a second bookable
offence for lunging in on Rubens Loftus-Cheek, having earlier cynically
clipped Alexandre Pato. Hutton, curiously, was applauded off.
Misguided
perhaps, what had preceded gave cause to explain. Despite Villa
supposedly scrapping for their lives, they played the game as if it was a
pre-season friendly.
It was
soon apparent this encounter would be played at the kind of pace found
during those summer weeks when players begin to shrug off holiday excess
and ease back into action. There are still six weeks of the season
remaining but any significance for either team has long since subsided.
John
Terry and Gary Cahill didn’t travel up from London due to minor
injuries, so Hiddink handed a first Chelsea appearance to Matt Miazga,
the 20-year-old American signed from New York red Bulls in January.
Miazga could not have hoped for a gentler introduction to English
football. Eden Hazard and Willian were also missing through injury.
Eric
Black hinted at changes to Villa’s line-up but made only two, Micah
Richards and Carles Sanchez returning. It is open to question whether
Gabby Agbonlahor’s absence pending an internal investigation into his
Dubai partying served as punishment or blessing.
Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede fires towards goal past the challenge of Chelsea centre back Matt Miazga on Saturday afternoon
The Aston Villa fans hold up banners to voice their concerns for the future of their relegation threatened club
Ashley Westwood (left) attempts to maintain possession for the home side at Villa park under the watch of Cesc Fabregas
The
match moved sedately from the off. In the 11th minute Pedro curled a
shot that brushed the roof of the net, and three minutes later Rudy
Gestede tested Thibaut Courtois from range.
In
minute 19 Pedro had the ball in the net following a smart finish but
the flag had been raised for offside. He would get more chances.
Loic
Remy was starting due to Diego Costa’s suspension, but in the 23rd
minute he pulled up lame and had to be replaced. Hiddink chose to give
Pato his first Chelsea appearance, 63 days after the 26-year-old signed
from Corinthians on loan. ‘We forgot that you were here,’ chanted the
demob-happy travelling fans. Radamel Falcao looked distinctly
unimpressed.
Chelsea winger Pedro whips in a shot on the edge of the Aston Villa penalty area but this effort skimmed over the cross bar
John Obi Mikel manages to ride a
tackle from Aston Villa striker Jordan Ayew during the first half of
action in the Premier League contest
Loftus-Cheek roars in celebration having fired in a deflected shot from close range to give Guss Hiddink's side the lead
Two
minutes later, Chelsea took the lead. John Obi Mikel displayed superb
skill to bypass two Villa players in midfield and fed Pedro, who
shuffled the ball to Cesar Azpilicueta, granted yards of space by Aly
Cissokho’s meandering.
The
Spaniard crossed low and Rubens Loftus-Cheek steered in at the near
post via a small but telling deflection off Joleon Lescott.
It
was a first Premier League goal for the 20-year-old midfielder, who
impressed throughout this game and must surely be given a substantial
role next season by Antonio Conte.
French striker Loic Remy was handed a rare start for the Blues but was forced off the pitch with an injury after just 23 minutes
Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato replaced Remy for his debut in Chelsea colours having signed for the Londoners 63 days ago
Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott keeps an eye on Spaniard Pedro as Chelsea looked to extend their early advantage
Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black issues instructions from the touchline as his side hosted Chelsea on Saturday afternoon
There
followed a revival of sorts by Villa, led by Jordan Ayew, displaying a
subtlety of touch and drive that hinted at his £8million pricetag.
He
kicked a post in frustration after nearly diverting Baba Rahman’s
clearance into the Chelsea net, after Carles Gil had tested Courtois.
Shortly after he rolled his own effort just wide after wriggling into
space in the box.
But
it always felt futile, so porous at the back are this Villa team.
Cissokho was at fault again as the visitors went two up in first-half
added time.
Cesc
Fabregas crossed from the left and Cissokho felt the need to haul down
Pato in the area. Referee Neil Swarbrick pointed to the spot and Pato
stepped up to take. His shot was firm and well-directed and he wheeled
away in spread-eagle celebration as if it was a goal in a Champions
League final. You could hardly blame him after so long out. ‘We were
here when Pato scored,’ sang the away crowd.
Aston Villa winger Carles Gil attempts
to curl in a shot past Thibaut Courtois (right) but his effort was off
target at Villa Park
Aston Villa's Alan Hutton (centre) dispossesses Chelsea forward Kenedy as the home side struggled to cope with the Blues' pace
Pato is hauled to the ground by Aston
Villa full back Aly Cissokho which earned the Brazilian striker a
penalty late in the first half
The 26-year-old, on loan from Corinthians, stepped up to score the penalty and secured a 2-0 half time lead at Aston Villa
At
half-time Hiddink replaced Kenedy with Oscar and within 50 seconds of
the restart he contributed to Chelsea taking a 3-0 lead.
Pato exchanged a delightful one-two to free his countryman, who cut back for Pedro to slot in unmarked.
Eight
minutes later, the Spaniard had his second. Oscar played in Pato on the
left and he hit a shot from 18 yards that Guzan allowed to squirm from
his grasp. Pedro converted the rebound from an acute angle. Errors from
Guzan are now a customary feature of matches.
From
enjoying gallows humour the Villa supporters became furious, booing
every touch their team took. ‘Championship, you’re having a laugh,’ they
were told. The Holte End sung: ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt.’
sections of the home support vented
their frustrations at the current situation at Aston Villa with banners
like this on Saturday
Leandro
Bacuna’s introduction in the 67th minute brought a vociferous reaction,
the Dutchman one of a number of Villa players to irritate fans through
conduct on social media.
Jack
Grealish was given his first minutes since January 30 and did well,
nearly setting up Ashley Westwood. He should have won a penalty when
fouled by Pedro but Swarbrick was unmoved.
In
the 74th minute the protest signs were raised, and Randy Lerner was
told where to go. Everybody knows where Villa are heading.
Here's the view from behind the goal
as Pedro slots home the third for Chelsea who managed to move up to
ninth in the Premier League
Former Barcelona winger Pedro celebrates his double for the Blues who clinched three points with consummate ease on Saturday
Plenty of posters with 'proud history,
what future' printed on them were thrown onto the Villa Park pitch as
fans frustrations mounted
Aston Villa full back Alan Hutton argues his case to referee Neil Swarbrick but the Scot was sent off for a second booking
Pato cracks a smile as he applauds the travelling Chelsea fans with the west Londoners leaving Villa park with a routine win
The clean up job begins at Villa park
after a host of fans threw banners onto the pitch at full-time of
Saturday's 0-4 defeat by Chelsea
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