Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 3 LIVE REACTION: Jorginho brace and Lukaku goal seals vital three points for Blues – updates

CHELSEA beat Aston Villa 3-1 in their Boxing Day clash thanks to an inspirational performance from Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian came on, scored and won a penalty late on and Jorginho bagged twice from the spot to seal a big three points for the Blues at Villa Park.

• RESULT: Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
• Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins
• Chelsea XI: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi

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• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 20:17

  Goodnight from Villa Park

  That's it from us here at SunSport's live coverage of this Boxing Day clash.

  It was a good contest from start to finish, with a scintillating first half and an eventful second.

  Romelu Lukaku was the king for Chelsea, making the difference up front in the second period.

  Villa fans will also be pleased with the way their team set out to beat the Blues.

  Thank you for enjoying the game with us.

  Stay safe.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 20:05

  McAllister praises Lukaku

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Aston Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister discussed the difference between the two sides.

  The Scotsman explained: "Looking at the result, I think it flatters Chelsea a bit.

  "They have some very good players. Romelu Lukaku made a difference.

  "I felt that we played some good football and we kept the ball away from our goal, but then they made the changes, and they came out on top."

  The man who stood in on the touchline for Steven Gerrard tonight also spoke about the Villa performance.

  He said: "We know it is very important to get possession of the football against a quality side like Chelsea.

  "We have played City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the last few weeks and had the chance to have a look at the elite teams and it's encouraging that we have competed very well.

  "A bit of identity is starting to appear."

  They have some very good players. Romelu Lukaku made a difference.

  Gary McCallister

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:59

  Tuchel talks

  Thomas Tuchel was pleased with the victory and three points tonight.

  The German coach said: "We showed a very good reaction after their goal.

  "The own goal made things super complicated. The reaction was very good.

  "We defended strong and did not allow big chances. It was a deserved win but hard work."

  But Tuchel is concerned with the amount of injuries within the team, on top of the Covid protocols.

  On this, he said: "We have concerns for injured players.

  "We let Callum Hudson-Odoi play 90 minutes after Covid. Thiago Silva got injured. N'Golo Kante is injured. Mateo Kovacic is playing after injury and Covid without any preparation and training.

  "We’re just filling holes where we can fill them. We play teams without international duties.

  "Five changes were invented because of Covid. Now we're in the middle of Covid and some teams are having games postponed and others aren't. Three changes is a big disadvantage."

  It was a deserved win but hard work.

  Thomas Tuchel

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:43

  Lukaku on Chelsea

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Romelu Lukaku was asked if Chelsea needed that result after dropping down to nine points behind league leaders Manchester City.

  Lukaku said: "We are the hunters now.

  "The last results were not the best and now we have to chase. We have to treat every game like a final.

  "Today we won and now we have to push on. We had to win the game.

  "Credit to Steven Gerrard and his staff. It was not easy for us.

  "Our quality came through."

  We are the hunters now.

  Romelu Lukaku

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:39

  'Man of the Match' Lukaku speaks

  After picking up the Man of the Match trophy for his 45-minute performance, Romelu Lukaku spoke to Sky Sports.

  The Belgium international spoke about his individual effort today : "I needed a performance like this today.

  "It’s been difficult getting the end of games.

  "I kept working hard. I’m happy with my performance and have to push on."

  I needed a performance like this today.

  Romelu Lukaku

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:35

  The Premier League table

  Chelsea will be chuffed with that victory away to a good mid-table team.

  They reduce the gap between them and Man City to six points.

  Villa drop to tenth.

  

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:31

  Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

  The West London club have taken all three points on the road at Villa Park.

  Despite a positive endeavour from Aston Villa, Chelsea's talent proved too much for the Midlands side.

  The introduction of Romelu Lukaku at half time – a bold move from Tuchel – ended up being the difference as he scored the second goal and won a penalty for the third.

  

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:23

  Villa 1-3 Chelsea

  90 + 3. Lukaku has changed the game.

  It was another piece of good play from Callum Hudson-Odoi to put him through with a defence-splitting ball.

  The ref has blown the final whistle and the away fans sing loudly.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:21

  GOAL – 3-1 to Chelsea

  Jorginho finishes the game.

  He passes it into the bottom right corner past Martinez!

  

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:20

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  90. There are FOUR minutes of stoppage time announced.

  Lukaku powers through on goal on the counter and Konsa steps across him and brings him down.

  Another penalty to Chelsea!

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:19

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  88. Jorginho is down and the Chelsea players shout at the medics to get off the pitch so that he doesn't have to go off.

  Chukwuemeka causing problems on the edge of the box but cannot get a shot away.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:16

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  87. Point-blank save by Martinez from Hudson-Odoi!

  Great move from Chelsea and Hudson-Odoi had ample time and space.

  Good save but it should really be 3-1.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:14

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  84. Chelsea in no hurry to take this corner.

  The corner from Mount is eventually unsuccessful.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:12

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  82. Jorginho wins the ball in midfield.

  Kovacic runs at Aston Villa. It looks dangerous but Konsa tackles him.

  Chelsea with more of the ball in the past few minutes as they look to bury the game with a third goal.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:09

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  79. El Ghazi has a shot from distance but it is straight at Mendy.

  Villa have had the lion's share of possession since Chelsea's goal.

  Ramsey fouls Pulisic on the right edge of the Chelsea box.

  James crosses but Esri Konsa wins it in the air.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:06

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  77. Villa appeal for a penalty as they play the ball in over the top but the linesman's flag is up for an offside.

  Chukwuemeka attacks down the right but can't keep the ball in play.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:04

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  75. Ex-Chelsea player Bertrand Traore makes a bright start off the bench.

  18-year-old Chukwuemeka looks to make a difference in midfield.

  Villa immediately make their final change:

  OFF Sanson

  ON El Ghazi

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:02

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  72. Kovacic gives away another foul over by the far touchline.

  Villa make a double substitution:

  OFF Ings

  OFF Buendia

  ON Traore

  ON Chukwuemeka

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 19:00

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  69. Villa win a free-kick in a key position on the right hand side but cannot find a claret and blue shirt from it.

  Buendia is clattered on the edge of the box.

  Villa searching for a chance.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:55

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  66. James bangs over the resulting free-kick.

  Villa attack and Watkins tries to slide Ings in but the pass is too heavy.

  Chelsea attack, Mount beats Martinez but misses a near-open goal!

  Mount puts his head in his hands.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:53

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  64. Buendia tries to play Ings in but cannot beat Chelsea's defensive line.

  Chelsea play the ball up to Lukaku and he's fouled on the edge of the box from Mings, who wrestles him to the ground.

  Mings is now suspended for their next game, vs Brentford.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:51

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  62. Chelsea make another substitute:

  OFF Kante

  ON Kovacic

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:51

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  59. Villa go for it again.

  Mendy comes out to clear another through ball.

  As I said early, this team doesn't give up under Gerrard.

  Gerrard will wish he was on the touchline right now instead of watching at home.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:47

  Villa 1-2 Chelsea

  57. Great movement by Lukaku there, with a clinical header to match.

  The Belgium forward really is in the elite group of goal scorers in Europe.

  He did it at Inter and he is doing it here.

• Alex Cole26th Dec 2021, 18:45

  GOAL – Lukaku scores!

  It takes Lukaku just SIX minutes to find the back of the net.

  He beat Mings to the ball from a Hudson-Odoi cross and heads into the bottom right corner!

  2-1 to Chelsea.

  

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