Source: SKY_Sports
Hiddink makes winning start
Chelsea produced an impressive performance in their first match under Guus Hiddink to beat Aston Villa 1-0 and climb to third in the Premier League table.[LNB] 'Deteriorating' displays prompted Chelsea to sack Luiz Felipe Scolari after the goalless draw with Hull City earlier this month but there was a marked improvement from the start as Aston Villa were pushed onto the back foot.[LNB]Nicolas Anelka, starting alongside Didier Drogba, grabbed the decisive goal with a delightful finish on 19 minutes following a sublime piece of skill by Frank Lampard.[LNB]Ashley Young almost equalised when his free-kick hit the crossbar and Villa then began to apply more pressure after half-time, with Petr Cech forced into a couple of fine saves.[LNB]However, Chelsea held firm to add to Villa's frustrations at the end of a week which has seen them crash out of the FA Cup and draw with CSKA Moscow in the first leg of their Uefa Cup tie.[LNB]Early scareDrogba had the first effort on target - a powerful low drive from a narrow angle which was dealt with by Brad Friedel - and Lampard's dipping long range effort was only just too high.[LNB]Cech gave the Blues a scare when he failed to cling onto a low cross from James Milner - and when the loose ball broke to Emile Heskey the striker was unable to keep down his left footed attempt.[LNB]It was a rare moment of danger from the home side and after 19 minutes Anelka put Chelsea ahead with his sixth goal in six meetings with Villa.[LNB]Lampard was the creator with a superb piece of footwork which enabled him to race clear of Curtis Davies and Stiliyan Petrov before sliding a pass through to Anelka.[LNB]The former Arsenal striker showed great composure in dinking the ball over Friedel into the corner of the net for his 21st goal of the campaign.[LNB]ClassChelsea looked a class above their opponents as they moved the ball around in masterful style to leave Villa often chasing shadows.[LNB]Friedel needed to pull off a superb one-handed save to keep out John Terry's thumping header from a Lampard corner.[LNB]Villa struggled to get into the game as an attacking force but in the 33rd minute Ashley Young came close to equalising when his curling free-kick hit the crossbar. Heskey was the first to react to the rebound but he headed well wide.[LNB]Martin O'Neill would have demanded a response for his side after the break but it was Terry who came close to doubling Chelsea's lead after 49 minutes.[LNB]The England captain met a Lampard corner with a firm header - but Petrov was able to clear off the line with Friedel beaten.[LNB]Carlos Cuellar became the first player to be yellow carded after 52 minutes for a foul on Anelka.[LNB]MomentumCech was forced to make his first meaningful save after 54 minutes when he beat out a fierce drive by Gabriel Agbonlahor after a slip by Alex.[LNB]Villa started to build some momentum and Cech turned aside a powerful effort from Gareth Barry.[LNB]But Chelsea finished strongest and they had the best two chances of the closing stages.[LNB]Drogba could have wrapped up the points after a mistake by Cuellar - but he lofted his shot into the Holte End, before Friedel denied Jose Bosingwa at close range.[LNB][LNB][LNB]Aston Villa[LNB]Team Statistics[LNB]Chelsea[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Goals[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]1st Half Goals[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]4[LNB]Shots on Target[LNB]7[LNB][LNB][LNB]7[LNB]Shots off Target[LNB]6[LNB][LNB][LNB]3[LNB]Blocked Shots[LNB]6[LNB][LNB][LNB]6[LNB]Corners[LNB]12[LNB][LNB][LNB]10[LNB]Fouls[LNB]12[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Offsides[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Yellow Cards[LNB]3[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Red Cards[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]67[LNB]Passing Success[LNB]79.1[LNB][LNB][LNB]26[LNB]Tackles[LNB]11[LNB][LNB][LNB]73.1[LNB]Tackles Success[LNB]81.8[LNB][LNB][LNB]39.5[LNB]Possession[LNB]60.5[LNB][LNB][LNB]56.5[LNB]Territorial Advantage[LNB]43.5[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
