Report: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 2 – Mount double increases pressure on Steven Gerrard
THE PRESSURE is mounting on Steven Gerrard as a Mason Mount-inspired Chelsea left Villa Park with all three points.
Mount was gifted his first of the afternoon just six minutes into the contest. Tyrone Mings’ error allowed the England international to sweep in and finish past Emi Martinez. The goalkeeper was at fault for the second after he misjudged Mount’s free-kick
Villa started well and, inside the first two minutes, forced Kepa Arizabalaga into a save. Douglas Luiz’s shot from the edge of the box was simple for the Spaniard to collect.
However, just four minutes later, Chelsea took the lead. Mings skewed his header into the air between himself and Martinez, allowing Mount to nip in and give the visitors the lead.
In the 15th minute, Villa should have drawn level. John McGinn’s cross was met by Leon Bailey, but from five yards out, the Jamaican’s header clipped the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Chelsea had their goalkeeper to thank for a stunning triple save. McGinn, Danny Ings and Jacob Ramsey were all denied by the Chelsea keeper in a stunning display.
Kepa was again the saviour for Chelsea in the 27th minute, denying McGinn for a second time. The Spaniard showed his quality again just after the half-hour mark, denying Ings, whose thunderous header looked certain to land in the net.
For all of their domination, Villa almost found themselves 2-0 down before the break. Kai Havertz found Raheem Sterling on the left-hand side of the box, and his effort bounced back off the crossbar.
McGinn and Kepa were having their own duel, and the keeper foiled the Villa captain once again in the 61st minute, getting down low to hold the shot.
Just four minutes later, Mount got his and Chelsea’s second. A free-kick from 20 yards out. Martinez gambled by moving a step to his right and, with the pace of the ball from Mount, was unable to recover in time.
Sterling nearly added a third for Chelsea six minutes from time. However, he was unable to beat Martinez.
The full-time whistle was greeted with jeers from the Villa fans as they sit 16th and just one point above the bottom three.