James gifts Chelsea victory over Villa

Gudjohnsen contrives a shot under pressure from Delaney

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

An error by Villa goalkeeper David James gifted Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Chelsea's winner in a tightly contested game.

James made a hash of a clearance shortly before half-time, allowing the Dutch striker to steal in and score his 13th goal of the season.

But it would be unfair to cast James as the fall-guy once again. Villa lacked creativity in midfield and were toothless in attack.

Chelsea were not a great deal better, but carved out the better chances, and in Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen had a highly threatening strike partnership.

Chelsea fielded a new-look side, with the experienced trio of Ed De Goey, Dennis Wise and Gianfranco Zola all left on the bench.

I thought David had a great game. He can count himself unlucky to concede a goal in the way he did

  John Gregory, Villa manager

But they dominated the early exchanges. James made a brilliant reaction save early on to deny Chelsea captain Gustavo Poyet, who headed powerfully from close range following good work down the left from John Harley.

Bizarre goal

Then Hasselbaink turned brilliantly inside Mark Delaney and chipped an inviting cross into the area, which Gudjohnsen met first time on the edge of the six yard box but sent wide of the post.

Villa did not have their first shot on goal half an hour of the game had passed, Ian Taylor heading tamely at Carlo Cudicini from eight yards out.

After 44 minutes Chelsea scored the goal which their first half performance warranted, but it came in bizarre fashion.

The much-castigated James was sloppy with a seemingly routine clearance, hitting it straight at the onrushing Hasselbaink.

The Dutch striker stretched and managed to contrive a looping shot.

My first reaction was that the ball was over the line, but when I saw it on the replay I wasn't so sure

  Gus Poyet, Chelsea

The ball took an eternity to reach the goal, but crossed the line despite a valiant attempt at a clearance from Southgate.

Villa misses

Shortly after the re-start Hasselbaink embarked on a jinking run into the area and unleashed a powerful shot that beat James but clattered against the crossbar.

Dalla Bona volleyed the rebound high above goal.

Gilles de Bilde was then guilty of two bad misses for Villa.

First he failed to hit the target with a shot from the edge of the area and then he lingered too long on the ball when one-on-one with Cudicini, allowing Chelsea's keeper to save.

Villa failed to create any clear-cut chances after that, and Chelsea could have extended their lead through Morris and Dalla Bona near the end.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Leboeuf, Terry, Melchiot, Harley, Poyet, Jokanovic, Morris, Dalla Bona, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink.
Subs: de Goey, Wise, Ferrer, Lambourde, Zola.

Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Wright, Southgate, Boateng, Taylor, Dublin, Merson, Staunton, Stone, De Bilde.
Subs: Vassell, McGrath, Standing, Samuel, Enckelman.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).