Highlights: Pedro hits treble as Chelsea inflict more pain on Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
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JOAO PEDRO NETS HAT-TRICK AS CHELSEA RUN RIOT TO CLOSE GAP TO ASTON VILLA
Chelsea came from behind to stun Aston Villa, storming to a 4-1 victory at Villa Park to throw the UEFA Champions League race wide open.
Joao Pedro netted a clinical hat-trick to complete a turnaround for The Blues, who took advantage of Villa’s very high line to cause all sorts of problems every time they went forward.
Villa got off to the perfect start as Douglas Luiz opened the scoring within just two minutes, flicking cheekily home from a Leon Bailey cross to send the home supporters wild.
But the mood within three corners of Villa Park completely changed when Chelsea eventually clicked into gear, propelled by Pedro's first on 36 minutes, a tap-in from a low Malo Gusto cross.
Ollie Watkins thought he had edged Villa back ahead when he fired past Filip Jorgensen from a Morgan Rogers through ball, but VAR intervened, ruling him offside by the finest of margins.
Liam Rosenior’s side then delivered a sucker punch on the verge of half-time as Pedro dinked over Emiliano Martinez. The Brazilian was very close to being offside but he timed his run to perfection to make the most of Enzo Fernandez’s pass.
Chelsea gained great confidence and extended their advantage on 55 minutes as Cole Palmer got in on the act. Martinez pushed Gusto’s cross back into the danger zone, where Palmer was lurking to convert.
Pedro then completed his hat-trick nine minutes later, scoring a similar goal to his first. It was an easy tap-in for Chelsea’s centre-forward as he converted from a squared Alejandro Garnacho pass.
Although Tammy Abraham came off the bench to strike the crossbar with a looping header, there was no way back for Villa and Chelsea clinched all three points.
The Blues become the first away side since Nottingham Forest in December 2024 to come from behind and win at Villa Park in the Premier League.
Chelsea leapfrog Liverpool and move up to fifth, just three points behind Villa. The race is hotting up.
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MCMANAMAN UNIMPRESSED
TNT Sports' Steve McManaman certainly didn't enjoy Filip Jorgensen's antics in second-half stoppage time.
The Chelsea goalkeeper rolled around after Villa striker Tammy Abraham kicked the ball out of his hands...
'What on earth is he playing at?' - Jorgensen draws furious reaction from McManaman
Video credit: TNT Sports
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WATCH: JOAO PEDRO NETS THIRD
Here's how Pedro clinched the match ball. He was never going to miss, taking advantage of Villa's high line.
Pedro taps in from Garnacho pass to complete hat-trick
Video credit: TNT Sports
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SCORES ON THE DOORS
There have been some significant results elsewhere in the Premier League, whereas 10-man Newcastle's clash with Man Utd is still ongoing in the later kick-off.
Newcastle v Man Utd is currently live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.
Villa striker Tammy Abraham heads over to the Chelsea away end with Trevoh Chalobah and receives plenty of love from his former fanbase.
Should Abraham have come on sooner for Villa tonight?
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Full time
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FULL-TIME: ASTON VILLA 1-4 CHELSEA
That's that as Jarred Gillett blows his full-time whistle!
Chelsea are victorious, and become the first away side since Nottingham Forest in December 2024 to come from behind to win at Villa Park in the Premier League.
Rosenior is absolutely thrilled. Emery, meanwhile, is stunned and marches straight down the tunnel.
90+4'
90+4'
NO WAY BACK
Now four minutes into the six announced by the fourth official, Chelsea are calmly passing the ball around the back to hold on for this win.
The Villa fans - those that remain, at least - are heading for the exits.
90+2'
90+2'
OUT OF HIS HANDS
Jorgensen spills the ball and Abraham pounces, poking it away.
But the Chelsea goalkeeper just about got both hands on it in time, winning a goal-kick as Abraham kicked it out of his grasp.
90'
90'
OFF THE BAR!
Tammy Abraham heads onto the woodwork!
It was a looping header and it had beaten Jorgensen, but it didn't quite drop early enough, bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
It would only have been a consolation, but a nice consolation nonetheless.
89'
89'
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
Villa are enjoying a decent spell of possession and causing a few problems with crosses into the area, however it's too little too late, you've got to say.
Chelsea will hold on for all three points pretty comfortably here. And what a huge three points they could be.
85'
85'
PEDRO AND PALMER OFF
Hat-trick hero Pedro and the scorer of Chelsea's third goal, Palmer, leave the field to a standing ovation from the away supporters.
Andrey Santos and Liam Delap are on in their places.
83'
83'
BIG SAVE
That was nearly game, set and match.
Chelsea get in behind Villa's high line AGAIN and this time Cucurella squares for Garnacho, but the winger's shot is saved brilliantly by Martinez.
He's had a few practice runs and failed, has Martinez, but he made no mistake that time as he denied Garnacho with his feet.
80'
80'
LIKE LONDON BUSES
You wait 75 minutes for a Chelsea change and suddenly there are two more!
Defensive pair Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurella are on for Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana.
76'
76'
FIRST CHELSEA CHANGE
Rosenior makes his first substitution as Malo Gusto makes way for Romeo Lavia.
Substitution in
R. LaviaChelsea
Substitution out
M. GustoChelsea
73'
73'
ABRAHAM FINALLY ON
The substitution the Holte End has been asking for...
Tammy Abraham is on for Ollie Watkins, who was unfortunate not to score in the first half, caught so narrowly offside.
This could have been a very different game if that counted.
Substitution in
T. AbrahamAston Villa
Substitution out
O. WatkinsAston Villa
72'
72'
THE AUDACITY
Joao Pedro's playing with quite the swagger. You would do after netting a hat-trick at Villa Park, in fairness.
Chelsea's standout player has just gone close to scoring a remarkable bicycle kick, controlling on his chest and acrobatically shooting from 15 yards.
It bounced narrowly wide of the far post. What a goal that would have been.
71'
71'
WATCH: PALMER MAKES IT 3-1
Palmer's eyes lit up when Martinez palmed away Gusto's cross and he made no mistake from the edge of the area.
Palmer fires home to extend Chelsea's lead
Video credit: TNT Sports
70'
70'
VILLA FALLING APART
Emery is normally so good at game management, but Villa have really lost the plot in this second half.
Not only did the Villans give up their lead, but they've allowed Chelsea to cut right through them pretty much every time they've gone forward.
Cash being booked made a difference, as his replacement Bogarde has struggled to hold the usually line. The offside trap simply hasn't been working.
If anything, it has been more of a trap for Villa.
68'
68'
WATKINS FRUSTRATED
Villa centre-forward Watkins is the next to be booked, as he shoves over Fofana in frustration.
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Highlights: Pedro hits treble as Chelsea inflict more pain on Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports