Chelsea’s struggles continued as Aston Villa produced a stunning second-half turnaround to secure a 2-1 Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge, equalling a club record that has stood for 111 years.
Despite controlling possession and tempo before the break, the hosts were punished by a ruthless Villa response after half-time, underlining the contrasting form of the two sides.
Chelsea Dominance, Aston Villa Resilience
Chelsea started brightly and enjoyed 62% possession, creating several openings. Their pressure finally told in the 37th minute when Joao Pedro broke the deadlock, capitalising on a flicked corner from Reece James to poke the ball past Emiliano Martinez.
“A lot of things went right for us in the first half, but we failed to kill the game,” a frustrated Chelsea fan summed up the mood inside Stamford Bridge.
Villa, meanwhile, struggled to register a shot on target before the interval, but remained compact and patient under sustained pressure.
Watkins Sparks Historic Turnaround
The visitors emerged transformed after the break. Introduced from the bench, Ollie Watkins changed the course of the match, levelling in the 63rd minute with a deflected finish following a swift attacking move.
Aston sensed an opportunity and continued to push forward. Their persistence paid off again in the 84th minute when Watkins rose highest to head home from a corner, completing his brace and silencing the home crowd.
“That’s the mentality of this group—we never stop believing,” Watkins later said after sealing the comeback.
The victory marked Villa’s eighth straight Premier League win and extended their winning run to 11 matches across all competitions—matching a sequence last achieved 111 years ago.
Aston Villa now sit firmly in the Premier League’s top three with 39 points from 18 matches, trailing only Arsenal and Manchester City. At the same time, Chelsea’s inconsistent December run leaves them searching for answers as the season progresses.
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