Ollie Watkins hits winner as Chelsea's poor start continues
WINNER: Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring his side's goal during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Pic: Nigel French/PA Wire
Malo Gusto was sent off as Chelsea’s miserable start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa thanks to Ollie Watkins' first goal of the season.
It means the Blues have now failed to find the net for three games running, following last weekend’s forgettable draw at Bournemouth and a dismal 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, and have only won one of their opening six games of the Premier League campaign.
The Blues were the joint fifth lowest scorers in the Premier League last season, netting just 38 goals in 38 games which was the same amount as newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and less than relegated sides Leeds United and Leicester City.
And despite another significant spending spree this summer which included the arrivals of attackers Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer and generated fresh positivity among a fed up fanbase, new boss Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to fix the club’s difficulties when it comes to scoring goals.
The Blues have scored just five times in the opening six Premier League games, three of which came in their only victory of the Premier League campaign at home to newly promoted minnows Luton Town.
Pochettino’s side had the chances to go ahead before Gusto was sent off in the second half. The struggling Jackson spurning the best of them when he was sent through on goal by a brilliant through ball from Mykhailo Mudryk, but the striker’s weak prod at goal was easily kept out by World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.
Villa had their chances too, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez making two fine stops to deny Lucas Digne’s dipping volley from distance which was followed by a fantastic save to keep out Nicolo Zaniolo’s powerful strike from close range.
Chelsea only have themselves to blame for not being in a better position by the time the red card came. Raheem Sterling, who is trying to impress England boss Gareth Southgate enough to earn a recall to the national team squad, spurned another great opportunity early in the second half when he was denied at close range by Martinez.
And Gusto’s sending off allowed Villa, who had put in an under-par performance by that point, to take the initiative. The Chelsea right-back flew in with a heavy challenge on Digne out wide and following a lengthy VAR check, referee Jarred Gillett opted to overturn his original decision of a yellow card and instead change it to red.
Even with ten men, there were openings for Chelsea. It is not just a case of missed opportunities for Pochettino’s side but poor decision making in the final third, or a bad final ball which ends an otherwise promising attack.
The Chelsea manager’s frustrations were compounded when Villa made their man advantage count, turning an attack from the home side into one of their own at rapid pace. Moussa Diaby fed Ollie Watkins through down the right, who saw his first effort blocked before brilliantly finding the inside of the far post to beat Sanchez.
Chelsea appeared spurred on by going behind, substitute Ben Chilwell being denied by Martinez moments later after getting in down the left.
The Villa fans, as many others have done, took great joy from watching a team they have seen regularly win trophies for the past 20 years struggle, with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” echoing around Stamford Bridge after their side had gone in front.
Pochettino will surely be afforded more time to turn it around, but the pressure that comes from another summer of big spending has increased again following their latest defeat and another game without a goal.
Sanchez 6, Gusto 5, Disasi 6, Silva 7, Colwill 6, Caicedo 6 (Broja 79’), Enzo 6 (Palmer 68’), Gallagher 6, Sterling 6, Jackson 6 (Ugochukwu 68’), Mudryk 7 (Chilwell 61’).
Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Pau 7, Digne 7, Kamara 7 (Dendoncker 90’), Luiz 7, McGinn 6 (Ramsey 79’), Zaniolo 6 (Bailey 75’), Watkins 8 (Duran 90’), Diaby 7 (Tielemans 81’).
Jarred Gillett 5.
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