aston villa 4-2

Independent:

Seriously ill Petrov an inspiration

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4
DAVID INSTONE VILLA PARK

Grief continues to follow Aston Villa around. They were the visitors to Swansea on the day on which Gary Speed's death was announced, their recent home game against Bolton was postponed following Fabrice Muamba's collapse and now they worry for Stiliyan Petrov.
More prosaically, their supporters fret over the possibility of relegation despite a fine late fightback with two goals in three minutes. As Villa Park was sniffing the unlikeliest of victories, Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres struck at the other end in the final eight minutes as Chelsea ended a run of three consecutive Premier League away defeats with a thrilling victory.
Petrov undergoes his first bout of treatment tomorrow as he contests a battle infinitely more important than the one his side fought and lost here on the pitch. Inspirational leader that he is, he watched with his wife and two young sons and gave a friendly wave just before kick-off as a statement read out on his behalf spoke of his confidence in fighting the acute leukaemia with which he was diagnosed on Friday.
"He was in before the game and everybody embraced him," said Villa's manager Alex McLeish. "He inspired a lot of people today." Whether the Bulgarian will be back in claret and blue is doubtful. At the age of 32, with 106 international caps and just over a year left on his contract, he can be forgiven for having other targets, although the club insist the words "for now" became dropped off in translation in the reports in his homeland quoting Petrov as saying: "Football is over."
This was an afternoon of applause all round; mainly, of course, for Petrov but also for the ebb and flow of a fine game. Chelsea's players loosened up in white number 19 T-shirts with Petrov's name on the back and the message 'Our thoughts are with you' on the front. By the time the fans led one minute's clapping in the 19th minute, Roberto Di Matteo's team had scored one and threatened others.
The breakthrough was only nine minutes in coming. Torres, having already struck Shay Given's feet from a one-on-one chance set up by David Luiz's superb long pass, was denied in an intricate link-up involving Salomon Kalou and Juan Mata but Daniel Sturridge forced the ball home left-footed at the far post.
The Villa Park faithful has been urging McLeish to give youth its fling and, partly out of necessity, the manager did here. Petrov's absence reduced the average age of the outfield players to 23, with 16-year-old Jack Grealish among the substitutes.
For a while, the inexperience showed. John Obi Mikel's venomous 35-yarder took two deflections on its journey straight to Given before Mata dinked brilliantly over the keeper and against the far post.
Although James Collins headed a good chance over and Gabriel Agbonlahor was superbly denied by Petr Cech's right boot, the game seemed to be going Chelsea's way with something to spare when Ivanovic chested down Mata's left-wing corner and toe-poked home early in the second half. "We thought there might have been a handball there and maybe Torres high-kicked before the first goal when Nathan Baker was diving to head the ball," said McLeish. "I think I've killed an albatross."
Against the odds, though, the revival came. Collins climbed highest to despatch a terrific header from Eric Lichaj's long 76th minute throw and the young American right-back soon struck with the equaliser – his first Premier League goal – by appearing behind Ashley Cole to turn in Marc Albrighton's driven low centre from the left.
Only once since 1999 had Villa lost at home to these opponents and the thought of completing a 2011-12 double over them must have flashed before their eyes. But this is a not an Andre Villas-Boas team; it is one that has rediscovered its resolve. Even with Didier Drogba out with a foot injury suffered in training and David Luiz limping off with an ankle ligament problem late in the first half – both will be assessed before the Champions League return against Benfica on Wednesday – Chelsea found it within themselves to dig deeper.
Ivanovic restored the lead by heading in after Torres nodded on Malouda's corner, then Sturridge superbly set the Spaniard up in stoppage time to rifle home his first League goal since late September and only his eighth for the club.
"It was an emotional day," Di Matteo said. "It was great to see the football community respond like that but I thought we controlled the game apart from that few minutes. We had many chances. I am pleased for Fernando. He has been providing goals and now he has scored."
It's onwards and upwards for a manager who has now overseen six victories and a draw from his eight matches in charge. For Villa, the landscape is different. But at least we were all talking about football at the end; just as Stiliyan Petrov would want it.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Given; Lichaj, Collins, Baker, Warnock; Bannan, Herd (Albrighton, 70) Ireland, Gardner; Weimann (Heskey, 82), Agbonlahor.
Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz (Cahill, 45), Cole; Mikel; Lampard, Kalou (Ramires, 59); Sturridge, Torres, Mata (Malouda, 74).
Referee Lee Mason.
Man of the match Mata (Chelsea).
Match rating 9/10.


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Observer:

Stilian Petrov watches as Chelsea beat Aston Villa in six-goal thriller
Russell Kempson at Villa Park

On a chilly and sombre day in the midlands, Chelsea crept closer to Champions League qualification next season – that is, if they don't win the competition this time around – with a nerve-jangling victory over a young and eager yet brittle Aston Villa side. They threw away a 2-0 lead, allowing Villa to draw level, but two late goals crowned an entertaining encounter that was perhaps needed after the desperate news emanating from Villa Park the previous day, when it was announced that Stilian Petrov, the Villa captain, had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia.Chelsea, ending a run of three successive away defeats, now lie two points behind Tottenham, who play Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, in the chase for fourth place. If they are not yet wholly convincing under the stewardship of Roberto Di Matteo, the interim replacement for André Villas-Boas, they are now resilient instead of fractured. It was Di Matteo's sixth win from eight matches in all competitions since he stepped into the breach. As job interviews go, he is stating his case quite emphatically.Not that the Italian is comfortable staking his claims verbally. "I will enjoy this for about an hour," he said. "Then we prepare for the next game." That is the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Chelsea hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg and will have to be sounder defensively than they were against Villa in the second half if they are to repel their Portuguese opponents. "We were strong and dominant today, apart from those five minutes," Di Matteo said. "We had many chances, it was a shame we didn't kill the game off earlier."As a bonus, Fernando Torres also appears to be rediscovering a semblance of form, now that Di Matteo has shown faith in him – Villas-Boas patently did not – with five starts in his eight matches in charge. Torres lashed in a cross-shot in time added on, after Daniel Sturridge's thrusting run, for his first Premier League goal in six months. Eight goals, though, is still hardly the greatest of returns since he moved from Liverpool to west London for £50m in January last year. Yet if Torres has problems, perspective almost engulfed Villa Park. The match had been overshadowed 24 hours earlier with the news that Petrov had leukaemia. Poignant reminders were everywhere, with the players of both teams wearing T-shirts on which were printed "Our Thoughts Are With You" during their pre-match warm-ups.A statement was also read out on Petrov's behalf over the PA system, in which he said. "I am sure I will beat this illness and I am determined to do this," he said. "For me, football will have to take a back seat for a while but I will continue to support my team-mates." Petrov will start receiving treatment on Monday but, despite reports in the Bulgarian media, he has not retired. "I've not heard anything about that," Alex McLeish, the Villa manager, said. "We saw 'Stan' in the dressing-room before the game and I think some of us weren't sure whether to applaud or cry. He shook everyone's hand and everyone embraced him."Torres played a role when Chelsea went ahead in the ninth minute. Salomon Kalou dinked in a cross from the right, Torres touched it on to Juan Mata and collected the return pass. Shay Given denied Torres but the ball squirmed to Sturridge, who guided in his 12th goal of the season from close range. More applause for Petrov broke out in the 19th minute – he wears the No19 shirt – but Chelsea maintained their concentration. "It was an emotional day," Di Matteo admitted, "but once the game starts, you have to focus."Branislav Ivanovic stretched the advantage, perhaps using a hand to help control Juan Mata's corner before he planted it into the net, but Villa fought back with two goals in three minutes, James Collins nodding in powerfully from Eric Lichaj's long throw and then Marc Albrighton crossing for Lichaj to tuck in the leveller. But with a plucky draw appearing on for Villa, Ivanovic headed in his second goal and Torres fired home in stoppage time.

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Telegraph:

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4: match report
By Graham Chase, Villa Park

It began with a ripple as Petr Cech gathered a harmless throughball and developed into a throaty noise that watered eyes and made hairs stand on end.
As soon as the clock turned to 19 minutes, the Villa Park crowd stood for a minute’s applause in honour of Stiliyan Petrov, who was diagnosed with acute leukaemia on Friday, with two sets of balloons in the red, white and green of the Bulgarian flag drifting over the heads of theChelsea supporters.
One can only begin to imagine the emotions felt by Petrov and his family as they looked on from a hospitality box followed by the pride when his young team-mates laid down a marker of defiance, coming from two goals down to threaten to earn what would have been a remarkable comeback.
The effort expended by this collection of youngsters – six of the starting line-up were 23 or younger – says much about their character.
Petrov, 32, faces an uncertain battle when he begins his treatment in London tomorrow, but he has been left in no doubt about the way his sport feels about him. Both sets of players wore
T-shirts with his name on to warm up and there were banners everywhere, particularly in the Holte End.
Chelsea did their bit but looked ready to depart with an easy win thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Branislav Ivanovic. But James Collins and Eric Lichaj pulled Villa level with 10 minutes left to set up what looked likely to be a remarkable comeback.
Yet it was not to be as Ivanovic scored his second before Fernando Torres broke away to score his first Premier League goal in more than five months.
Petrov’s programme notes, written in the days before Friday’s announcement, added further poignancy, with the Bulgarian renewing his message of support for Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who continues to recover from his cardiac arrest, and talking up the young Austrian forward Andreas Weimann, who was given his first start by Alex McLeish.
They were sentiments that Petrov also alluded to in a statement that was read out moments before kick-off as pictures of him in his seat were shown on the big screens, as his intention to fight with a determination inspired by Muamba was expressed over the speakers.
There is something reassuring that not all tribalistic tendencies are forgotten in such circumstances. Despite their
T-shirts, the visiting players were gently jeered as they came out before the game. And after Villa fans sang “One Stiliyan Petrov”, they applauded the visitors’ song without realising it was 'One team in Europe’ being belted out of the away end.
When it came to it, a Villa team full of youth and purpose ultimately looked limited against a Chelsea side that faces Benfica next week with the chance to move into the Champions League semi-finals. However, David Luiz and Didier Drogba are both doubtful for that game with respective ankle and foot problems.
Chelsea will be delighted with Torres’s performance, even though he saw an early effort blocked by Shay Given after he raced on to a David Luiz pass, but he was soon involved again as the visitors took the lead.
Salomon Kalou sent over a cross from the left and Torres was fed by Mata, but the striker was stopped in his tracks by Stephen Warnock before Sturridge swept in from close range. Soon after John Obi Mikel saw his thumping drive deflect off both Baker and James Collins only to finish up in the arms of Given before Collins headed over at the other end as he went close to ending the minute’s applause in style.
Mata always looked the most dangerous player on the field and after a flurry of quick passes involving Kalou and Torres, he guided a shot past Given only to see it come back off the inside of a post, while a Gabriel Agbonlahor effort, which was blocked by Cech’s legs, was the best effort from the home side.
Petrov is renowned for his local charity work and there is no sign of that stopping, with the Villa captain pledging £500 for each spot-kick missed in a half-time penalty shoot-out against former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Any prospect of a comeback appeared to have been halted within six minutes of the restart, when Ivanovic prodded in from close range from a Mata corner.
But with 12 minutes left, a long throw from Lichaj was met with a powerful header from Collins as Villa pulled one back and within three minutes, Lichaj was at the far post to touch in from a cross from Marc Albrighton to level the scores.
It made the climax even harder to take for Villa’s fans. Ivanovic prodded in from a Florent Malouda corner three minutes later and there was even time for Torres to end that long wait for a Premier League goal.
Although this was less convincing than it should have been, with six wins from his eight matches in charge Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo is staking a strong claim to become more than an interim manager and he was pleased with the character shown by his players, not just Torres.
“He’s been providing goals for his team-mates and now he’s scored as well,” Di Matteo said. “We’re happy we can score four goals.
“Before the game our thoughts were with Petrov and his family but once the game starts, you have to focus on the task.
“We keep this positive momentum and spirit. Every game and win helps us continue and believe.
“After they drew level they could have capitulated but you saw the spirit and desire to win the game and we reacted in a positive way.”
Chelsea have their eyes on Europe, this week and next season, and Villa should have enough in the tank to survive their battle against relegation. For Petrov, the battle is just beginning.

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Mail:

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4: Torres ends Premier League drought as Petrov watches on

Amid all the emotion of a disturbing afternoon, football could never be more than a trivial diversion at Villa Park.
Yet a match was played, Chelsea won with a good deal to spare, and the Champions League place which had faded to a distant dream was suddenly acquiring sharper focus.
Aston Villa had emerged from the trauma of Friday's diagnosis to play for their stricken captain.
They worked to offer the watching Stiliyan Petrov the tribute victory, but as the match bubbled to its frantic conclusion, Chelsea carried the heavier ammunition.
Men who had declined to rouse themselves for the previous manager were now toiling urgently for Roberto Di Matteo, and the manner of their success occasionally evoked faint echoes of the Chelsea of old.
If the heart was with Villa at this time of deep anxiety, then the head acknowledged Chelsea's superiority.
And they were given their just reward when Fernando Torres drove in their fourth goal in added time.
Until that final strike, it seemed as if Villa might deliver a deeply improbable outcome.
Two goals down and fading fast, they somehow found equality with goals in the 77th and 80th minutes.
With the home fans screaming for miracles, and the Chelsea defence yielding to wholesale panic, it seemed that those demands might be answered.
Back with a bang: Torres scored his first Premier League goal for six months against Villa
But Branislav Ivanovic seized a chance at a corner four minutes later, and the late goal from Torres ended the frantic speculation in those closing moments.
On a more normal Saturday, the Villa fans might have launched all manner of protests at the way this season has turned on them.
But with the shock of Petrov's diagnosis of leukaemia scarcely 24 hours old, there was nothing normal about this occasion.
Quite naturally, Villa had begun as if their minds were elsewhere. In seven minutes, Torres was allowed to lope on to a through-ball from David Luiz, yet managed to hit the keeper with the simplest of chances. And Villa's defending did not improve.
Salomon Kalou flung in a long cross, and both Torres and Juan Mata played unopposed passes in the sixyard box.
Daniel Sturridge came surging in to thump the scoring drive with the minimum of resistance.
Still the atmosphere remained nervously unnatural, with the tension being eased by the erupting applause of the 19th minute, when the tribute to Petrov rang around the ground.
Villa tried their mightiest to mark the minute with a goal, winning two corners, the second of which James Collins headed frustratingly high.
With Gabriel Agbonlahor Villa's only potent option at the front, Chelsea coped comfortably in midfield and should have gone further ahead when they worked a fine opportunity for Mata in 23 minutes, the chance slapping against a post.
Still Villa toiled, and their efforts yielded their best opportunity two minutes from the interval. Barry Bannan played a shrewd, short ball in the box to Agbonlahor, who made himself space, struck a low, fierce drive and saw Petr Cech fly across goal to parry instinctively and force the ball away off the crossbar.
And yet, within six minutes of the second half, that lead was doubled. Again, the defending was wretchedly inept.
Mata took a corner from the left and Ivanovic exploited the indecision of Nathan Baker at the near post.
The ball was hastily controlled, a hopeful foot was prodded out, and a silence fell across the entire ground, save for the capering blue section in a stretch of the grandstand.
At this stage, the plot was apparently written. Chelsea began to tinker with their formation, while Villa seemed resigned to another debilitating defeat.
But came that 77th minute, and came a long throw, heaved into the Chelsea area by Eric Lichaj.
This time, Collins accepted the scoring header with some force.
Barely three minutes later, the Villa substitute Marc Albrighton embarked on a lovely, weaving run on the left.
The cross to the far post was low and probing, and Lichaj came tearing in for the touch. Pandemonium reigned.
Everything seemed possible. And the elation lasted precisely four minutes.
Then Chelsea won a left-wing corner and the cross was whipped into the turmoil of the six-yard box.
The ball seemed to hit the head of Ivanovic almost involuntarily.
But no matter. Shay Given was beaten, the defender was celebrating his second goal, and Villa's dream was almost dead.
Still they worked, fighting for one more improbable break, but Chelsea were preparing to end the debate.
In 92 minutes, with almost the entire Villa side stranded upfield, a ball was played out of defence and moved smoothly by unopposed players before Torres strode on to the final ball to drive home the conclusive goal.
As he celebrated his first league goal for 1,035 hours, the Villa side dropped their shoulders and accepted reality.
And we knew that their minds would soon turn to other, more important matters on this sad weekend.

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Mirror:

Aston Villa 2-4 Chelsea
By Ian Edwards

Stiliyan Petrov’s emotional appearance at Villa Park was an act of defiance and sheer bravery his team-mates were unable to reward.
The Bulgarian, who just 24 hours earlier had been ­diagnosed with acute leukaemia, has been an ­inspirational figure at Villa Park for six years.
His colleagues would have swapped any of the club’s former triumphs for success against Chelsea, but they were unable to deliver as a well-taken strike from Fernando Torres — his first league goal in more than six months — put the seal on the win for the Blues.
For Petrov, however, more important victories lie ahead. T-shirts were worn by both teams in a show of solidarity for the midfielder (right) and Chelsea supporters were equally respectful in their backing, but that was where the unity had to end.
Roberto Di Matteo’s galvanised Blues were as ­ruthless as could be for a team with designs on a top-four finish and a Champions League and FA Cup double.
Even if they squandered a two-goal lead generated by Daniel Sturridge and the first of Branislav Ivanovic’s two contributions, Villa’s response from Eric Lichaj and James Collins was ultimately futile. A second goal from Ivanovic followed by Torres’ strike swatted away renewed aspirations of the victory and maintained Chelsea’s rehabilitation under Di Matteo.
The Italian said: “It was an emotional day and we really feel for Stiliyan as a person and a player. But we had to do our job and try to win the game.
“You could see how the football community ­responded again after such terrible news and that is magnificent, but we showed great character and we were very professional in what we had to do.”
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish said: “Stiliyan came in before the game and it was very emotional. We were not sure whether to applaud him or cry.
“He went around and shook everyone by the hand and all the players embraced him. It was great to see him.
“It was a travesty we did not get something out of the game for him, but the show of support was fantastic.
“When any player’s mortality is cast into sharp focus, real life and death circumstances, tribal combat for the bauble of victory and three points is meaningless.”
Chelsea, who displayed dignity by warming up with T-shirts bearing Petrov’s name, left with only their second victory at Villa Park in 13 years, which takes them to within two points of Tottenham.
Despite the absence of Didier Drogba because of a toe injury, the Di Matteo effect was evident again with another confidence-boosting success ahead of their bid to secure a Champions League semi-final place against Benfica on Wednesday night.
Di Matteo’s only blow yesterday was the loss of ­defender David Luiz at half-time to an ankle injury, meaning he may miss the game.
Emotions generated by Petrov’s illness will remain raw and his emotional address over the PA system was barely audible, drowned by a crescendo of spontaneous applause at the sight of the Villa captain waving from the directors’ box.
He was clearly moved by the outpouring of goodwill from the fans and appeared to wipe away a tear.
For him football has no importance now. The plight of the family man with two children renders Chelsea’s squabbles over TV schedules, senior players’ power struggles with former coach Andre-Villas Boas and Torres’ lack of goals irrelevant. Yet victory for them and the need to rescue a miserable season was crucial, and by the time Villa fans broke into more orchestrated applause in the 19th minute — the squad number of the Villa captain — Chelsea were already ahead through Sturridge’s tap-in, after Collins blocked Torres’ initial effort.
Ivanovic doubled the lead, again from inside the six-yard box when Villa failed to deal with Juan Mata’s corner.
At that point, avoiding embarrassment looked the only option for Villa. Yet from nowhere they found the stomach for a battle they could have been forgiven for not caring too much about.
Mata curled a long-range free-kick over the bar and ­Torres glanced a header wide. Collins gave Villa a lifeline with 14 minutes remaining when he headed a long throw from Lichaj past Petr Cech.
Then three minutes later Villa Park erupted when Lichaj equalised for McLeish’s side.
Marc Albrighton was the creator with a dangerous low ball across the Chelsea six-yard box and Lichaj made no mistake at the far post.
But Villa were again caught out at a corner in the 83rd minute when Ivanovic restored Chelsea’s lead.
Florent Malouda floated the ball into the danger area and no one picked up Ivanovic as he headed past Shay Given.
Then in time added on Torres scored when he beat Given with a low drive.

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Sun:

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4
WONDER BRA ... two-goal Ivanovic give Blues a lift
By ROB BEASLEY

MATTEO will not get the job, of course — not after Roman Abramovich's big gamble on AVB backfired
But put your money on him being offered another top post in the summer after his heroics at the helm for Chelsea.
Not only has the amiable Italian united a dressing room that was fractured and feuding under Andre Villas-Boas, he has turned the Blues into contenders again.
Six wins in eight prove that, so watch out Spurs and Arsenal, beware Benfica and, dare we say it, Barcelona?
Super Robbie has even got Fernando Torres scoring!
In fact, the £50million striker was magnificent, a clear man of the match who did far more than just notch his first league goal in SIX MONTHS. That's right, his first since he scored against Swansea way back in September.
Torres has been widely mocked since then but the Spaniard made a tremendous contribution from start to finish.
As early as the sixth minute he was through one-on-one with Shay Given, who denied him with an outstretched boot.
Chelsea's No 9 did play a key — Villa argued controversial — role in the Blues' opener just three minutes later, though.
His volleyed pass to compatriot Juan Mata saw defender Nathan Baker get a kick in the face as he dived in head first.
With Baker laid out on the deck Mata returned the ball to Torres whose blocked shot rebounded to the unmarked Daniel Sturridge, who could not miss.
Villa did try to respond and there were roars when Gabriel Agbonlahor hammered home — unfortunately long after he had been flagged offside.
In the 19th minute, the whole ground, including Chelsea fans, rose as one to roar its support for the stricken Stiliyan Petrov.
The Bulgarian, who is battling acute leukaemia, wears No 19, and it was a wonderfully orchestrated tribute to the Villa captain who was watching from the stands.
He returned the fans' applause as football showed its caring, compassionate side once again on another highly emotional occasion.
But Chelsea, who wore T-shirts in support of Petrov in the warm-up, were ultra-professional once the action was under way, with Torres leading by example. Like in the 25th minute when he laid the sweetest of passes into the path of Mata.
When Mata's effort rebounded off a post, Torres was in again only to be denied by a dramatic block from Baker.
Sturridge then shot at Given to waste another opportunity and so the Londoners' slender lead left them vulnerable.
They nearly paid the price just before half-time when Agbonlahor again let rip but this time the alert Petr Cech made a great save with his legs to divert the ball over.
But six minutes after the break, Chelsea, did turn their dominance into something more tangible when Mata's corner was forced in at the near post by Branislav Ivanovic.
Torres then flashed a header wide though it did not appear to matter, with the visitors seemingly cruising to an impressive away win.
Yet suddenly the wheels fell off spectacularly as Villa plundered two goals in just three minutes.
First centre-back James Collins headed in a long throw from Eric Lichaj on 77 minutes but the alarm bells went ignored by the Blues.
So American right-back Lichaj ventured forward again, and this time he scored — ghosting in behind Ashley Cole at the far post to squeeze home Marc Albrighton's excellent cross.
Unfortunately for Villa, Di Matteo's Chelsea are a far different proposition to the Blues of Villas-Boas.
And the Champions League quarter-finalists came storming back to secure a valuable away win that keeps them right in the hunt for a top-four finish.
With seven minutes to go, Torres flicked on a corner and there was Ivanovic to thump home an unstoppable header.
Then, in injury-tim,e Torres cut in from the right and let fly with a fierce drive that flew across Given and into the net.
The icing on the cake for Chelsea, a bitter pill to swallow for the home team. How their prospects differ as the season reaches its climax.
Villa are not out of danger as they stay rooted in the bottom six with just 33 points.
Away games at Liverpool and Manchester United are sandwiched around a home clash with Stoke.
In contrast it is Benfica at the Bridge on Wednesday for the Blues, with old rivals Barcelona beckoning.
And RDM and his men still fancy themselves to surprise neighbours Tottenham and Arsenal with a late flourish to finish as the top team in London after all.
Just a shame about those Manchester boys, eh Robbie?

Aston Villa: Given, Lichaj, Collins, Baker, Warnock, Gardner, Herd (Albrighton 70), Agbonlahor, Ireland, Bannan, Weimann (Heskey 82). Subs Not Used: Guzan, Johnson, Williams, Carruthers, Grealish. Booked: Warnock.
Goals: Collins 77, Lichaj 80.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz (Cahill 45), Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Sturridge, Mata (Malouda 74), Kalou (Ramires 59),Torres. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Essien, Bosingwa, Bertrand.
Goals: Sturridge 9, Ivanovic 51, 83, Torres 90.
Att: 34,740
Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).


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Express:

ASTON VILLA 2 - CHELSEA 4: BRANISLAV IVANOVIC DOUBLE IS HEARTBREAKER
By Bob Wroe

ASTON VILLA'S youngsters did everything they could to honour Stiliyan Petrov, coming back from two goals down, only for Branislav Ivanovic’s late effort to leave them heartbroken.
Daniel Sturridge and Ivanovic looked set to seal a comfortable win for the visitors.
But efforts from James Collins and Eric Lichaj in the space of three minutes pulled Villa level, only for Ivanovic to grab his second late on before Fernando Torres ended a league goal drought that had stretched back to September.
But it was still a display of real defiance from a youthful Villa team that will have no doubt left Petrov proud.
There was no shortage of tributes for the Villa captain, 32, who was diagnosed with acute leukaemia on Friday, including a minute’s applause when the clock ticked on to 19 minutes with reference to his squad number.
It was not quite the ruthless efficiency Chelsea have so often shown under Roberto Di Matteo but they move within two points of Tottenham all the same.
Torres passed up the chance to grab the lead when he saw his shot blocked by Shay Given after he was clipped through by David Luiz.
But the visitors put themselves in front on eight minutes thanks to neat work inside the box. Salomon Kalou clipped the ball in and after Nathan Baker went down under Torres’ challenge, Mata returned the ball to his fellow Spaniard.
Even though the striker’s shot was blocked by Stephen Warnock, Sturridge was on hand to side-foot in his 12th of the campaign.
It should have been more before the break, with John Obi Mikel’s arrowed shot deflecting off Baker and Collins before being gathered by Given.
As the minute’s applause came to an end, Collins headed over the bar from a corner from Barry Bannan.
Mata almost added the second goal, coasting through after passes from Torres and Kalou, only to see his effort come back off the inside of the post. Luiz gave the visitors an anxious moment when he glanced a Warnock cross just wide of his own goal.
When Villa finally came up with a decent opening, Petr Cech did well to block a low effort from Gabriel Agbonlahor with his legs.
Five minutes into the second half Mata’s corner fell for Ivanovic, who stabbed in from four yards.
Villa pulled one back when Collins thumped a header in from a long throw from Lichaj. And when Marc Albrighton surged down the left and sent over a cross, Lichaj was at the far post to touch in.
Then, from a Florent Malouda corner, Torres flicked on and Ivanovic fired in Chelsea’s third before Torres raced away to add his first Premier League goal in five months.
Di Matteo said: “I will enjoy this for an hour and then start preparing for Benfica.
“You saw their spirit and desire to win the game – and we reacted in a positive way.”
Alex McLeish said: “Stan was with all the boys and they weren’t quite sure whether to applaud or cry, but he shook everyone’s hand and everyone embraced him.
“It was great to see him. His presence inspired the crowd and young players. It was a travesty we didn’t get anything out of the game.
“I am very disappointed, but the show of support for Stiliyan was fantastic.

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Star:

ASTON VILLA 2 - CHELSEA 4: IVANOVIC IS BRAN-TASTIC
By Harry Pratt

RUTHLESS Chelsea showed their winning instinct is firmly back in place – but only just.
For while Villa Park was a sad, sombre place to be yesterday, following the news that the Midlands club’s much-loved skipper Stiliyan Petrov has leukaemia, the Blues wrapped up a vital victory in dramatic fashion.
When goals from Daniel Sturridge and Branislav Ivanovic had Roberto Di Matteo’s visitors two-up with only half an hour left on the clock, it seemed game over for the Villains.
But that was before a sensational fight- back from Alex McLeish’s troops, who hauled themselves into contention with two strikes in two crazy minutes.
Defender James Collins headed the first on 77 minutes – and then American midfielder Eric Lichaj tucked in Marc Albrighton’s cross to level proceedings.
Suddenly, it seemed Petrov, watching from the stands, would get just the boost he needed before heading to a London hospital tomorrow to begin months of treatment for his illness.
Yet it was not to be. Villa went gung-ho and, searching for an unlikely winner, they fell asleep at the back to allow Serbian Ivanovic and Fernando Torres to bury two more at the other end.
That late double was enough to seal victory for the resurgent Blues, who have now closed the gap on fourth-placed Spurs to just two points, having played a game more.
Di Matteo, with six wins in eight games at the helm, said: “We all feel for Petrov – and we wish him well. This was an emotional day, but we had to do our job and get the result.
“I felt we were strong and dominated the game – apart from the five minutes when they scored their goals. We created many chances and could have finished the game off earlier.
“Everyone can see Torres has been providing goals and now he is scoring them as well. It was great that we score four times and the win is all-important for us.
“We can only influence what we can do and even though our schedule is difficult at the moment, we have to try to get as many points as we can.”
Chelsea arrived at Villa Park in a buoyant frame of mind.
Already through to the FA Cup semi-finals, they have one foot in the last four of the Champions League following last week’s 1-0 win in Benfica.
Yet with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all looking good bets to join them at that stage, winning that competition would be a major achievement.
Which is why finishing among the top four come May 13 – and qualifying for next season’s Champions League is an absolute imperative.
With that in mind, Di Matteo stuck pretty much to the same side that had performed so well in Portugal – recalling only Frank Lampard, Sturridge and Ivanovic.
And Chelsea were quickly into their stride when Torres played a one-two with Juan Mata and although his shot was blocked on the line, the rebound fell to Sturrridge, who smashed in his 12th goal of the season.
Villa looked shell-shocked and with the experienced Richard Dunne missing through injury, seemed incapable of getting themselves back into the contest.
That all changed following a highly-charged 19th minute when, in honour of Petrov’s squad number, the entire 30,000-plus crowd stood united as one again to give the seriously-ill star another rapturous round of applause.
Petrov’s response was to join in – and give a wave of appreciation to all those keen to see him get better soon.
It nearly brought the perfect response from the Villa players as almost immediately James Collins headed over by inches and then Gabby Agbonlahor’s bullet drive was stopped by Petr Cech.
Unfortunately for McLeish’s men, they were left rue to that miss when, 14 minutes into the second period, Chelsea grabbed a decisive second.
Mata’s corner found its way to unmarked Ivanovic at the near post and, despite a suspicion of handball, he stabbed in from five yards.
It looked over and done with for the Blues before that amazing Villa fightback forced them to find the extra gear – missing for most of this season – and win the match.
McLeish said: “Stan came in beforehand and a lot of the lads didn’t know whether to applaud or cry.
“But he shook hands and embraced the players. His presence inspired a lot of people – and the crowd in turn inspired the young players. We felt that it was a travesty that we didn’t get anything – so we’re obviously disappointed.”