Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea: Player Ratings
ASTON VILLA:
Bradley Guzan: 3/5
Had very little to do for much of the match. He reacted well, as he grabbed the ball away from Ba’s feet after a sumptuous cross from Mata in the first half. Got lucky after a Lampard free-kick brushed his hand and then went out off the post. Could have done nothing about either goal though, as Lampard produced a real moment of quality for the first, and his defence crumbled for the next.
Eric Lichaj: 2/5
Almost scored in the first half as his cross deflected off Ashley Cole, but his luck began and ended there. Did come to life in the latter stages of the second half though, as Aston Villa pushed for a winner and then an equaliser. Did a sterling job defensively as he kept Hazard quiet till the 88th minute.
Ron Vlaar: 2.5/5
His experience was essential for the Villa backline to defend against the Chelsea attacking quartet of Hazard, Mata, Lampard and Ba, as he kept intercepting and clearing attacks from the four. The pressure came to him though,as Chelsea upped the ante after scoring.
Nathan Baker: 3/5
Strong performance at the back, and handled Ba admirably. Might have got a hand on Cahill’s shot in the 70th minute, which was cleared off the line by a combination of Sylla and Westwood.
Joseph Bennett: 3/5
Another player who did himself no harm in an accomplished performance throught the 90 minutes. Kept driving forward to feed and support Villa’s attacking endeavours.
Ashley Westwood: 3.5/5
Great performance as he played a box-to-box role and covered every blade of grass on the pitch. Took on an attacking prominece after Benteke’s dismissal, and tested Cech brilliantly with a half-volley from 25 yards Made a crucial goal-line clearance from Ba’s shot in the 73rd minute. Arguably Villa’s best player on the day
Fabian Delph: 3/5
Took great pleasure at skipping past challenges and driving at the Chelsea defence in the second half as he was afforded more room in front of him. Could have scored in the 17th minute as his enthusiastic run through the heart of the defence ended with a shit skimming past the goal. Could have scored at later times throughout, but his shots were wayward.
Yacouba Sylla: 2.5/5
An understated performance from the midfielder as he opted to keep things neat and tidy while his teammates showed more endeavour. Virtually anonymous, other than the goal-line scramble after Cahill’s shot.
Andreas Weimann: 2/5
Looked off-colour today, and had little impact on the games proceedings, other than delivering a few poor crosses into the Chelsea box from the right. Did well to feed Delph in the 60th minute, whose eventual shot was off-target.
Gabriel Agbonlahor: 2/5
His performance today showcased the good and bad of Gabriel Agbonlahor, as he tested Chelsea time and again with his nimble feet, but could hardly come up with any ideas when crowded out. Looked lost after Benteke’s departure. Not his day, unfortunately.
Christian Benteke: 3/5
This man just does not stop scoring goals. He opened the scoring again today, after waddling past a hapless Gary Cahill, and beating Cech with a sweet shot from his left foot, at Cech’s near-post. Was extremely lucky to remain on the pitch after deliberately elbowing Azpilicueta in the 36th minute. He eventually got sent off after a high boot into John Terry, in the 58th minute, which was his second yellow card of the evening. Will miss the rest of Villa’s campaign. Villa’s attack looked far more numb after the dismissal.
CHELSEA :
Petr Cech: 3/5
Like Guzan, had little to do in the game. However, he will have been extremely disappointed to be beaten by Benteke at his near-post in the first half. Looked more ensure there onwards, and produced a fantastic save from Westwood’s half-volley.
Cesar Azpilicueta: 3/5
Had his work cut out as long as Benteke was present on the pitch, and was continually tested by him, Agbonlahor and Bennett. However, grew in stature after Villa lost Benteke, and began to drive forward more in the second half after Moses’ withdrawal.
Gary Cahill: 2/5
Terrible defending to concede the goal from Benteke, as the Belgian managed to trod past him, without so much as a stutter. His performance throughout the first half was dismal, but he looked slightly better after Luiz’s introduction. His most important contribution, other than the shoddy defending, was a shot which produced great controversy after being cleared off the goal-line.
John Terry: 2.5/5
Showed his experience early on, as he blocked Agbonlahor from running past him. Looked solid and composed at the back after Benteke’s dismissal. He was made to hard while the Belgian was on it though. Went off injured in the 78th minute, after falling awkwardly on his ankle. Looked in great pain, and is sure to miss the Europa League final.
Ashley Cole: 2.5/5
A sobre display from the English left-back, who couldn’t provide much to the Chelsea attack, and had little defending to do. Almost inadvertently drew Lichaj’s cross into his own net.
FLOP OF THE MATCH
Ramires: 1/5
Terrible performance from the Brazilian, who looked anonymous during his 45 minutes on the field, with Sylla and Delph bossing him around. Made matters worse for his team and himself after collecting a second booking, and being sent off after a high boot on Agbonlahor.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Frank Lampard: 4/5
It just had to be this man. There are no words left to express the genius that is Frank Lampard. Another sublime display. Yet another brace, the first one of real quality, the second one trademark Lampard as he ghosted into the area, and tapped Hazard’s low cross into the net. His two goals now mean he’s perched Bobby Tambling off the top of Chelsea’s goal-scoring charts, with an astonishing 203 goals. All from midfield. What a player.
Eden Hazard: 3.5/5
Lichaj controlled him well in the first half, and for most of the second, as most of Hazard’s trickery came for naught. However, produced two moments of quality, as he fed Lampard for both his goals, the first from the right, the second from the left. Left the pitch injured in injry time though, clutching his right hamstring. Will be a great miss for Chelsea, if he is ruled out of the Europa League final.
Victor Moses: 1/5
A poor performance from the Chelsea winger, as he did little to threaten Villa in the first half. Looked shorn of confidence and sharpness. Was sacrificed for David Luiz after the break.
Juan Mata: 2.5/5
Fed Ba with a superb cross from the centre, which had left him through on goal. However, he wasn’t as influential as he usually is, and looked tired, and forlorn in the face of a stubborn Villa defence.
Demba Ba: 2/5
Yet again, Demba Ba failed to score for Chelsea. His only clear effort on goal was a partial shot after Mata’s cross, which too was well saved by Guzan. Still hasn’t solved Chelsea’s striking conundrum, and his start today might mean a start for Torres in the Europa League.
SUBSTITUTES :
David Luiz: 2.5/5
Bought more control to midfield after his introduction with his solidity, and made the defence more assured. However, his passing was wayward, and he seemed to have left his scoring boots at home, as he wasted to good free-kicks.
Branislav Ivanovic: N/A
Bought on to replace John Terry after his injury, and did whatever he could to stop Villa from scoring a equaliser.
Fernando Torres: N/A
Essentially a time-wasting substitution, he came on to replace Ba. Had far too little time to influence anything on the pitch though. Might get a start in the Europa League, where he seems to score freely. Still hasn’t scored a Premier League goal in 2013. His last being a goal against Villa, at Stamford Bridge before Christmas.