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Aston Villa logo
Premier League
Mar 15, 2014 at 5.30pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-0

Delph (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Aston Villa stun nine-man Chelsea

Aston Villa dent Chelsea's Premier League title hopes with a 1-0 win over the nine-man Blues at Villa Park.

Chelsea's Premier League title hopes have taken a major blow this afternoon courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Aston Villa's English midfielder Fabian Delph scores his goal past Chelsea's Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech and Chelsea's English defender John Terry during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham © Getty Images

Fabian Delph scored the only goal of the game with just eight minutes to play to hand Villa a valuable victory, leaving nine-man Chelsea just six points clear at the top having played three games more than second-placed Manchester City.

The visitors threatened Villa's goal in the 11th minute when Willian was afforded space to shoot from outside the box, but his effort hit the side-netting as Brad Guzan watched it go wide.

Willian turned provider moments later, linking up with his compatriot Oscar, who curled a first-time effort just a yard wide of the post.

Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian is shown a red card by referee Chris Foy during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham on March 15, 2014© Getty Images

Villa almost took the lead in spectacular fashion with just six minutes to go until the break, as Christian Benteke produced an acrobatic volley from outside the box that flew narrowly wide.

Chelsea thought that they had broken the deadlock just two minutes later when Nemanja Matic squeezed the ball over the line at the back post, but the goal was disallowed for a handball against the Serbian midfielder.

The visitors came close again five minutes after the restart when Eden Hazard's cross was diverted towards goal by a Villa defender, forcing Guzan into a sharp stop to prevent an own goal.

Benteke then had a glorious chance to score in the 65th minute when he exchanged passes with Andreas Weimann before bending an effort just past the post.

Ramires of Chelsea is shown a red card and is sent off by referee Chris Foy after a challenge on Karim El Ahmadi of Aston Villa (L) during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park on March 15, 2014© Getty Images

Chelsea's task was made all the more difficult with 20 minutes of the match remaining when Willian received a second yellow card for a foul on Delph.

The hosts almost took full advantage of this in the 81st minute when Ron Vlaar rose highest inside the box to nod a corner just wide.

The Villans wouldn't have to wait much longer for the opening goal, however, taking the lead just one minute later. Delph gave the ball out wide to Weimann before flicking the return pass past Petr Cech in sublime fashion.

Villa threatened again on the counter as Chelsea poured forward in the search for an equaliser, with Benteke forcing a save from Cech with a stinging drive from 20 yards.

Paul Lambert manager of Aston Villa congratulates goal scorer Fabian Delph of Aston Villa after the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park on March 15, 2014© Getty Images

Delph almost sealed the points in the third minute of stoppage time when Cech make a mess of dealing with his shot, sending the effort looping up and off the bar.

A miserable afternoon was compounded late on for the visitors as they were reduced to nine men when Ramires was shown a straight red for a poor challenge on Karim El Ahmadi.

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Christian Benteke of Aston Villa shoots past John Terry of Chelsea to score a goal to level the scores at 1-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on August 21, 2013
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