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Scolari's men march on after outclassing Villa

05/10/2008

Chelsea remain at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka see the Blues stay on top ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's men were a class apart in the first half and could have been further ahead than their two-goal advantage.

Michael Ballack forced Brad Friedel into a fine save with a 20-yard strike while Frank Lampard headed wide from close range after Anelka's cross.

And the Blues' dominance was rewarded on 22 minutes when Lampard teed-up Cole to hammer the ball past Friedel after Villa squandered possession at the back.

Chelsea continued to carve open Martin O'Neill's side with Anelka rattling the bar with a shot from 25 yards while Lampard's free-kick was parried away by the busy Friedel.

Their slick passing resulted in a second goal a minute before half-time when Friedel parried shots from Ballack and Anelka but the Frenchman reacted quickest to stab in the rebound.

Chelsea eased up in the second half with Franco di Santo coming on for Anelka while Salomon Kalou replaced Joe Cole, who limped off.

But Ballack should have scored Chelsea’s third after blazing over from just seven yards out. Kalou thought he had netted with a spectacular overhead kick but it was controversially ruled out for off-side, while the Dutchman fired over minutes later after exchanging passes with Lampard.

Villa's best chance of the half fell to Gabriel Agbonlahor who lashed a shot wide after opting to shoot rather than tee-up Ashley Young.

But Chelsea held on and proved their tag as title favourites with a comfortable victory.