By Victor Kanayo
Chelsea’s fortunes have continued to dwindle after they fell 0-1 to Aston Villa in a Premier League match on Sunday.
The defeat has repeatedly confined Chelsea to a difficult start of the season, in continuation of a woeful campaign last term.
Unwanted Record
It is the first time Villa have beaten Chelsea in back-to-back league games in 30 years, while Mauricio Pochettino’s side have made their worst start to a top-flight season after the opening six games since 1978/79.
But as has often been the case this season, Chelsea had their chances to score, with Emiliano Martinez making a string of fine saves, but were once again unable to find the net. They have now failed to score in their last three Premier League matches.
Aston Villa too had a raft of chances, but eventually made one count when Watkins (73) fired home on the tightest of angles after a fine break with Moussa Diaby.
It came 15 minutes after Malo Gusto was shown a straight red card. It was initially a yellow after a crunching challenge on Lucas Digne, but upgraded by referee Jarred Gillett after he consulted the pitchside monitor.
Villa showed no signs of fatigue from their midweek return to European football and move into sixth, just two points off the top four.
The result sees Chelsea languishing in 14th place with just five points this season.
North London Derby, Liverpool Show
Earlier same day, star players – Bukayo Saka and Heung-Min Son showed class to lift their club.
This is as Arsenal and Tottenham ended a pulsating encounter in a North London derby 2-2 draw.
The derby draw leaves both sides four points behind Manchester City after six games, doing their early title credentials no favours.
Also, Liverpool humbled West Ham 3-1 in another Premier League game. Brighton also humbled Bournemouth with same margin.
