Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea came from behind to take the points on Boxing Day as Aston Villa narrowly lost out at Villa Park.

A cross from Matt Targett deflected into the net off Reece James as the hosts took the lead after 28 minutes.

Villa led for only six minutes, however, with Jorginho converting a penalty after Matty Cash had brought down Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Half-time substitute Romelu Lukaku headed the Blues into the lead shortly after the break before Jorginho netted his second spot kick to seal the win in stoppage time.

Villa were without head coach Steven Gerrard, who is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, as they looked to pick up consecutive league wins, leaving assistants Michael Beale and Gary McAllister to prowl the touchline.

And the duo would have been encouraged by what they saw in the opening stages as the hosts controlled the game and looked to unsettle the Blues at every opportunity, with Ollie Watkins and the returning Danny Ings seeing shots blocked.

Clear-cut chances were non-existent between two evenly-matched teams, with Mason Mount’s overhit cross clipping the crossbar before Villa took advantage of some good fortune to take the lead after 28 minutes.

Some neat interchanges around the box led to Watkins laying the ball back for Targett, whose first-time cross flicked off the head of James and dipped over Edouard Mendy on its way in at the far post.

The lead lasted just six minutes before a rush of blood saw Cash hack the back of Hudson-Odoi’s heel and bring the winger down, gifting Jorginho the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

A customary leisurely run-up ended with the Italian sending Emiliano Martinez the wrong way in front of the Holte End.

Thomas Tuchel made an attacking switch at half-time, bringing on Lukaku for centre-back Trevoh Chalobah as he tweaked his side’s formation.

And the change paid dividends with 56 minutes on the clock when the Belgian striker muscled in front of Tyrone Mings and met Hudson-Odoi’s cross with a glancing header into the far corner.

Bouyed by the goal, Chelsea were in the ascendency and spurned a glorious chance to extend their advantage when Mount rounded Martinez and dragged a shot wide with just Mings to beat.

Former Blue Bertrand Traore, making his first appearance since October after injury, and Carney Chukwuemeka were introduced with just under 20 minutes to play as the hosts looked to mount a comeback, with Anwar El Ghazi entering the fray soon after.

The latter fired in a snapshot to force Mendy into some work, but it was his opposite number who was busiest late on, producing a fine save from Hudson-Odoi before facing another penalty when Ezro Konsa felled a surging Lukaku.

And despite guessing right on this occasion, the Argentine was unable to deny Jorginho as the midfielder put the finishing touches on his side’s win.