PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0 - all the action as it happened

16 October 2010 18:37
Saturday's Premier League action comes to a conclusion at Villa Park, where at 5.30pm Gerard Houllier's Aston Villa will hope to bounce back from defeat at Tottenham by taking on a Chelsea side threatening to open up a big gap at the top of the table. Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the game where you can email your thoughts on the action to dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea (5.30pm)Aston Villa: Friedel, Beye, Dunne (Clark 13)Collins, Warnock, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ireland (Sidwell 84), Downing, Ashley Young,Carew (Defouneso 74). Subs: Guzan, Cuellar, Bannan, Lichaj.Chelsea:Cech, Ferreira (Bosingwa 76), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires (McEachran 76), Mikel, Essien, Malouda,Kakuta (Zhirkov 45), Anelka.Subs: Turnbull, Van Aanholt, Bruma,Borini.Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)19.25: That result leaves Chelsea five points clear at the top with Villa climbing to eighth and just three points behind Arsenal in second. The Blues aside the Premier league table is ridiculously close.[LNB]Words from Chelsea captain John Terry: 'Both sides are going to be very happy with a point, we have struggled here over the past couple of years, they played well so we are happy enough to take away a point'[LNB]That's all from me this evening, as much as Villa - Chelsea never got going the Premier league as a whole has been very eventful today.[LNB]Be sure to join Tom Bellwood for tomorrow's Premier league coverage including the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool for kick-off at 1.30pm. Cheerio.[LNB]19.23: A couple of chances for Chelsea in the second-half but the story of the game was Villa's defensive unit was very disciplined and dealt very well with the majority of Chelsea's attacks. A well hard earned point from Houllier's side.[LNB]19.21: Huge drama at the start and at the end, but the filling left much to be desired.[LNB]Full-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea[LNB]90+3min: Nigel Reo-Coker hang your head in shame! In fairness he does fantastic to take the ball of McEachran but as he goes clean through on goal he can only chip the ball quite wide of cech's goal from the edge of the box. What a waste![LNB]90+1min BREAKING NEWS Cech touches the ball, as he wakes up from his coma to jump out and catch the Villa corner.[LNB]90min: Four minutes of added time and Villa have a corner, after some solid defending from Ivanovic.[LNB]89min: Villa playing for the draw, everyone is in their half...What a chance! Cole delivers a delightful chip in the box and Anelka throws himself at it but his diving header from yards out bounces on the floor and just clips the post as it goes out.[LNB]87min: Chelsea still pressing for a goal but as much as the visitors are trying to find a way through Villa have stood firm at the back. As a defensive unit the home side have been top class today.[LNB]85min: Final sub from Villa, Steve Sidwell is on for Ireland who goes  off to a round of applause from the home fans, he has had a solid game.[LNB]84min: Another harsh booking that. McEachran stand his ground as he brings down Petrov for a foul, but in no way is it cynical and he is a little unfortunate.[LNB]81min: Ashley Young gives away a free-kick on his own byline and he is furious. Pretty silly really as he is booked for dissent but the home side clear the eventual free-kick.[LNB] Woodwork: Clark was unlucky to see his header hit the post[LNB]80min: Off the post part 2! This time it's Clark's header that hits the post as his glancing effort hits Cech's low left woodwork.[LNB]77min: Off the post! A cross in the box is met by Ivanovic whose thumping header cannons off the upright. Unlucky.[LNB]76min: As Clark is booked for a high foot, Chelsea make their final subs with Jose Bosingwa and Josh McEachran on for Ramires and Paulo Ferreira.[LNB]75min: Fifteen minutes to go and this has 0-0 written all over it, i genuinely can't see a goal coming.[LNB]74min: Subs o'clock. Delfouneso is on for Carew to try and add some pace in attack. Chelsea getting ready for a double substitution.[LNB]72min: Villa's best opportunity they win a succession of corners with the latter the most effective as a short corner leads to a ball in the box where James Collins unmarked fires on target. The away defence get a block in however and Cech remains redundant.[LNB]70min: With Cech still watching paint dry, Nathan Delfouneso is getting ready to come on, Villa really need some attacking bite.[LNB]69min: Chelsea counter again with Anelka charging at the home defence, a dummy to the left though is followed by wild left foot shot on the edge of the penalty area which is well off target.[LNB]Ireland is booked for a late challenge on Malouda in the build up to that attack.[LNB] Menace: Cole proved to be a dangerous threat down Chelsea's left flank[LNB]67min: In truth that Ireland chance in the first couple of minutes is by far the closest we have come to a goal, just has not come alive this one.[LNB]65min: I don't know what has caused it but suddenly this has become stretched. Anelka's ball in the box following a Chelsea attack is cut out by Villa who bomb forward.[LNB]Carew is outnumbered though and Chelsea immediately break at the other end with Stephen Warnock getting booked for a late challenge on Anelka just to the right of the penalty area. [LNB]63min: Remember those Villa counters from the first half? forget 'em. Chelsea have done all the pressing this half, I don't actually think Cech has touched the ball since the break.[LNB]61min: No suggestions of Young diving this time, that's a pretty heavy challenge from John Terry who trips up the Villa winger on the turn. Lee Mason producing a yellow for that one probably justified too.[LNB]59min: We are getting closer to a goal. Zhirkov leaves Habib Beye trailing on the left wing and his low cross in the box is just cut out by Clark with Anelka waiting to tap home.[LNB]57min: It's calmed down a bit but the hosts are not getting any joy going forward, Ashley Young and Downing are starved of any service.[LNB] Midfield battle: Petrov and Kakuta tussled often in the first half[LNB]55min: Smart save from Friedel again it's straight at him but Anelka's drop of the shoulder to leave James Collins standing before his right footed effort in the box is a very ominous sign for this half.[LNB]54min: Finally Villa get some play in midfield their attack quickly fades and it's back to the wall time again for the home side.[LNB]52min: Villa can't get out their own half here, the Chelsea midfield are starting to find some gaps at the back, but as yet have not fully tested Friedel.[LNB]49min: It's all the visitors in the stands too. Blues fans in full voice as their side play with much more urgency.[LNB]48min: Chelsea starting the brighter, Zhirkov seems to be keen to get on with things this half, a lot more purpose to the visitors play as Malouda's powerful shot from outside the box is straight at Brad Friedel.[LNB]Second-half: Yuri Zhirkov is on for Kakuta and it's the Russian and Anelka that get this second period underway.[LNB]18.26: I just wonder how Carlo Ancelotti's side are going to approach the second half. Are they happy to come away from villa Park with a point and a five point lead at the top of the table?[LNB]Or will they up the tempo a bit and punish Villa for not taking a couple of opportunities in that first period. It wouldn't be the first time if they did the latter.[LNB]18.22: Richard Dunne could not continue in that half and Ciaran Clark came on in his place in the 13th minute. Sorry for letting that one slip folks.[LNB]18.18: Classic this is not. If it carries on like this I can see Villa stealing it though. The game's best chances have come from the home sides counter attacks which just fall at the final hurdle. Law of averages and all that...[LNB]Half-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea[LNB]45min: Villa with a late flurry at the end of the half with a succession of corners. But all the set pieces have been easily dealt with by both sides. One minute of injury time.[LNB]42min: As you were, the passing has been accurate and free flowing but also far from adventurous. We need goals...desperately.[LNB] No way through: Florent Malouda struggled to find a way past Villa's back line[LNB]39min: Finally action! Pinball in the Chelsea box falls to Ireland on the edge of the area whose first time effort is blocked by a diving and fully committed Ivanovic. Top defending that.[LNB]37min: Chelsea with all the play again, Villa are happy to invite the pressure and have defended excellently up to this point (barring the Kakuta chance).[LNB] 33min: Shocking defending. Cole's cross in the box finds Kakuta and with nobody within a million miles of him baloons a volley miles over the bar which is probably still rising as you read this.[LNB]Not necessarily an easy chance but given the space he should have at least controlled it first.[LNB]32min: It seems our most likely form of a goal is a Villa counter attack. A few times now Villa have quickly broke and the latest sees Nigel Reo-Coker charge forward.[LNB]Frustartion takes over though as Branislav Ivanovic beats him to the ball and the Villa midfielder takes away his legs with a trip.  Given Essien's booking Reo-Coker is a little lucky there.[LNB]30min: This time it's Chelsea's turn to knock the ball around seemingly without any purpose. I feel like I am watching a Serie A game.[LNB]27min: Some good patient passing from Chelsea ends with a corner as Nicolas Anelka's attempted cross is blocked. Florent Malouda's cross is cleared by the Villa defence as the danger passes.[LNB]25min: Free-kick to Chelsea out wide on the right of the box but it's wasted as it fails to beat the first Villa defender. This game needs a goal it really is starting to fade.[LNB]Stalemate: Both sides were evenly matched in the first half[LNB]24min: Villa with all the ball, knocking it around nicely in defence and the midfield, Chelsea look content to let them have it in truth.[LNB]22min: If Villa get their thinking caps on, Chelsea are here for the taking. The champions have looked asleep at the back at times in this game with Warnock given a free license to bomb down the left flank.[LNB]20min: Better from villa, Ireland receives the ball in the box but crowded out lays the ball back to Petrov whose firs time shot from 20 yards is deflected for a corner.[LNB]17min: Game turning a little scrappy now,there has been no real pattern to this game, except that Chelsea are constantly looking to pick out a Cole run down the left.[LNB]15min: One thing i will say is the pitch looks immaculate. Groundsman deserves a medal. If there was holes in the corners you could play snooker on it.[LNB]kakuta makes his first real contribution by firing over the bar from 25 yards out.[LNB]13min: First booking of the game, bit harsh as well. Stiliyan Petrov is a little too quick as he nips in ahead of Michael Essien who's outstretched leg brings the Bulgarian down.[LNB]10min: Chelsea with the ball in midfield but it's pretty easy for Villa to deal with as the attack lacks any sort of pace.[LNB]Dunne is off down the tunnel to get some stiches to the cut on his leg with Nigel Reo-Coker dropping to right back.[LNB]9min: In fact Dunne is off to get some more treatment on his leg, not good news for Houllier who has already had to make three late changes to his squad.[LNB]8min: Small delay here as Richard Dunne requires some treatment after a pretty robust (but fair) challenge with Ramires.[LNB]6min: Another great chance for Villa! Sloppy play from the Chelsea defence who give the ball straight to Carew. The tall Norwegian strides in to the box, opens up his body to goal but his low shot in to the far corner is just tipped behind by Petr Cech. [LNB]5min: This is a great opening to the game, both sides looking to get the tempo going, villa edging it slightly as Stephen Warnock's cross just lacks anyone at the near post to convert.[LNB]3min: Chelsea with all the ball but what a counter this is from Villa![LNB]Stewart Downing breaks away and upon reaching the penalty area plays through Stephen Ireland who clips his finish just wide of the post. He really should score, what a chance! [LNB]2min: Home crowd were pretty loud before kick-off but it's all the Chelsea fans making the noise at a pretty full Villa Park. No such action on the pitch yet.[LNB]Kick-off: Carew and Stephen Ireland kick us off...[LNB]17.28: If stats are anything to go by, Chelsea are in for a tough game. They have won just once in their last 11 visit to Villa Park.[LNB]17.26: Teams coming out a ridiculously wide tunnel at Villa Park, it's pretty overcast in the West Midlands but no signs of rain.[LNB]17.25: No Drogba or Lampard still for Chelsea and in comes 19-year-old Gael Kakuta to make his first Premier League start.[LNB]17.22: No Heskey for Villa today, no laughing either he has been superb since Houllier came in and that is a massive lost for Villa. John Carew has got his work cut out leading the attacking line on his own.[LNB]17.18: Villa of course lost at Tottenham in their last fixture but the international break can do funny things in terms of momentum.[LNB]Despite that defeat they have played some excellent football since Gerard Houllier took charge and Chelsea are in for a serious test.[LNB]17.16: For Chelsea this is a glorious chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points. Last time out they beat Arsenal 2-0 despite not being at their full flowing best. not good news for Villa.[LNB]17.13: These two sides have much to live up to! It's been a cracking afternoon of Premier League football where we have seen comebacks, late goals, penalties, red cards with every side scoring.[LNB]Here is this afternoon's team news:[LNB]Aston Villa v ChelseaAston Villa: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ireland, Downing, Ashley Young, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Cuellar, Bannan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Clark, Lichaj.Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Kakuta, Anelka. Subs: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Zhirkov, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Borini, McEachran.Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)[LNB] Double trouble: Drogba and Alex scored for Chelsea last time out against Arsenal[LNB]  ALL THE WEEKEND BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWSThe Firing Line: Merseybeat-ing? Heat is on Roy Hodgson ahead of derby D-DayCollins calls on Villa to repeat last season's heroics against ChelseaBring on Cole! Aston Villa whizkid Albrighton relishing Chelsea challenge [LNB]  Explore more:People: Gerard Houllier, Ashley Young, John Carew, Petr Cech, Stewart Downing, Richard Dunne, Michael Essien, Stiliyan Petrov, Nicolas Anelka, Carlo Ancelotti, Yuri Zhirkov, John Terry, Jose Bosingwa Places: Liverpool, Ireland

Source: Daily_Mail