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New Delhi: Aston Villa's remarkable rise this season continued on Saturday night as substitute Ollie Watkins scored twice to seal a dramatic 2-1 comeback win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The result has now stretched Villa's winning streak to 11 matches across all formats, keeping Unai Emery's side firmly in the Premier League title conversation.
The Blues looked in complete control for long spells but the Villains showed once again that resilience and belief are becoming defining traits of their season.
The victory keeps Villa third in the table, just three points behind leaders Arsenal and one behind Manchester City, setting up a mouthwatering clash with the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium as the year draws to a close.
Earlier in the day, Arsenal reclaimed top spot by beating Brighton 2-1 while City briefly went to the top after a similar win at Nottingham Forest. Villa's comeback in west London ensured they stayed right on the heels of both.
Chelsea started off strong and had all the chances to put the match beyond doubt before the break. Joao Pedro opened after scoring in the 37th minute when Reece James's corner clipped his leg and crossed the line. By half-time, the hosts had enjoyed over 70 per cent of possession and spent long periods camped in Villa's half.
The Blues failed to convert the chances. Cole Palmer, Emzo Fernanadrz and Alejandro Garnacho all went close while Emiliano Martinez was forced into several sharp saves. The numbers told the story with Chelsea having 28 touches in Villa's box compared to just three for the visitors till half-time.
The game shifted shortly after the hour mark. Emery introduced Watkins and tweaked his system, adding more pressure up front. The impact was immediate.
Just four minutes after coming on, Watkins muscled past Trevoh Chalobah on the counter and turned the rebound after Robert Sanchez could only parry the initial effort and suddenly the momentum swung Villa's way.
Chelsea struggled to regain their earlier rhythm, and the visitors grew in confidence. In the 84th minute, Watkins struck again, rising highest to head home a Youri Tielemans corner and silence the home crowd. “Amazing win,” Watkins said afterwards. “The manager changed things and it worked. Tactical genius.”
This victory has equalled their club record of 11 consecutive victories, a mark they have previously set more than a century ago. So far, Villains have taken 39 points from 18 games, their best-ever return at this stage of the Premier League.
For the Blues, it turned out to be another frustrating night at home. They have just one victory in their last six league matches and now sit 10 points behind Villa in fifth place.
Emery continues to play down talk of a title challenge, but the evidence keeps piling up. Villa have come from behind to win away at Chelsea, Brighton, West Ham and Leeds this season. They seem organised, confident and fearless.
Their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday will provide a major test. If the Villains manage to win there, then they will start the new year level on points with the league leaders, something that very few could have imagined at the start of the season.
