Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins’ maiden Premier League goal of the season secured a 1-0 victory against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Villa striker drilled home a 73^rd-minute winner off the inside of the far post having seen his initial strike blocked by Levi Colwill after racing clean through.

It came just moments after a crucial interception from Pau Torres, while Emi Martínez also made impressive saves to thwart Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Cole Palmer.

Opposite number Robert Sanchez was also called into action to superbly tip over from Nicolò Zaniolo and Lucas Digne as Villa more than matched their hosts.

One of the game’s key moments came in the 58^th minute as Malo Gusto was shown red after a VAR review for a dangerous challenge on left-back Digne.

Following a 2-0 victory at Chelsea last season, it was the first time Villa have recorded consecutive Premier League wins over Chelsea for 30 years and the first time away in west London in the league since the early 1930s.

Watkins, Torres, Matty Cash, Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby returned to Villa’s line-up from the XI who started against Legia Warszawa on Thursday, as head coach Unai Emery named the same side who started last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Villa matched their hosts during a closely-fought opening 20 minutes, which saw little in the way of goalscoring opportunities until Digne’s fierce dipping 20-yard volley from a half-cleared corner brought a fine fingertip save from Sanchez.

Martínez produced an excellent stop of his own moments later, racing out to thwart Jackson after he latched on to Mykhailo Mudryk’s throughball.

Sanchez was at it again in the 39^th minute as he pulled off a wonderful save to push over Zaniolo’s volley on the turn, ensuring it remained goalless at the interval.

Martínez made a smart save to deny Sterling at the start of the second half as the game remained fine poised.

But a crucial moment came just before the hour mark as Gusto was shown red, following a VAR review, for a dangerous sliding challenge on Digne near the touchline.

Cash drilled an effort at Sanchez in the 63^rd minute before Diaby pulled a chance wide.

Torres then made a well-timed interception for Villa, which proved pivotal as the visitors took the lead just a minute later via a swift counter-attack.

Diaby received the ball near the halfway line and fed Watkins, who raced towards goal and saw his initial strike blocked by Colwill before swiftly following up with a low second effort through the legs of Sanchez which nestled in off the far post.

Emery turned to Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey with 15 minutes remaining, and Villa were indebted to a superb save from Martínez to keep out substitute Chilwell.

Ramsey saw his curling strike tipped around a post by Sanchez while Martínez saved from sub Palmer.

And Villa stood strong, despite 11 minutes added time, to secure all three points and register back-to-back Premier League wins.