Collins header topples Chelsea

Aston Villa inflicted back-to-back away defeats on Chelsea as James Collins' second-half header clinched a 2-1 win.

Defensive duo impress as leaders toppled

Aston Villa came from behind to inflict back-to-back away defeats on Premier League leaders Chelsea as James Collins' second-half header clinched a 2-1 win. Didier Drogba's long-range effort provided Chelsea with an early lead at Villa Park, only for Martin O'Neill's side to level through Richard Dunne and then claim the three points courtesy of the impressive Collins. Villa could easily have been awarded a penalty on 11 minutes when Gabriel Agbonlahor appeared to be dragged to the ground by Jose Bosingwa, yet four minutes later the hosts fell behind. Drogba turned sharply from Frank Lampard's neat inside pass and let fly from 35 yards with the Ivorian's dipping drive bouncing over Villa keeper Brad Friedel. The home side took time to recover before drawing level on 32 minutes when Lampard could only glance on Ashley Young's corner and Dunne steamed in to head home his second goal in as many games. Further slack defending by Chelsea contributed to Villa's winner on 52 minutes as Nicolas Anelka left Collins unmarked to head home another Young corner at the far post. Chelsea pressed for an equaliser with Deco, Florent Malouda and Anelka all shooting straight at Friedel, but Villa saw out the closing moments with few further alarms.

Delayed start

The kick-off was delayed for five minutes after referee Steve Bennett was taken ill and fourth official Keith Friend stepped into the breach. Villa striker Agbonlahor had the first effort on goal and his shot on the turn was deflected wide. The home side had claims for a penalty rejected when Bosingwa wrestled with Agbonlahor in the box in attempting to get on the end of a first-time cross. James Milner then made a superb tackle inside his own box to deny Malouda, but after 15 minutes a rare mistake by Friedel, in his 198th consecutive Premier League appearance, allowed Drogba to put Chelsea ahead. Drogba fired in a hopeful 35-yard drive but Friedel allowed the ball to bounce over his dive and into the corner of the net. It was Drogba's seventh goal of the campaign. Villa tried to retaliate and Chelsea skipper John Terry made a crucial interception to cut out a low centre from Milner with John Carew and Agbonlahor unmarked in the danger area. Chelsea were now looking the more likely to score and Ashley Cole was only just too high with a rising drive after a powerful surge forward.

Celebrated

But after 32 minutes Dunne struck for the second successive match to bring Villa back on level terms. Essien was forced to concede a corner after good link-up play between Agbonlahor and Petrov. Young's centre flicked off the head of Lampard and Dunne was on hand to head home at the far past. The Republic of Ireland international celebrated in a way he had declined to do when netting against his former club Manchester City 12 days ago. Agbonlahor became the first player to be booked after 35 minutes for a challenge on Michael Essien. Friedel redeemed himself for his earlier error when tipping over a chip from Deco at full stretch before Collins' superb block denied Drogba at point-blank range. Villa took the lead early in the second half when Collins was left completely unmarked at the far post to power a header past Cech from Young's inswinging corner. Lampard was only a couple of feet wide with a low 20-yard drive as Chelsea tried to respond, but Friedel showed he had fully recovered from his first-half error with another excellent block on a shot from Deco, who had been put clear by Drogba. Malouda was then denied by Friedel who beat out his fierce 20-yard shot, and then the American thwarted Anelka as Chelsea searched in vain for the equaliser.

Aston Villa	Team Statistics	Chelsea
2	Goals	1
1	1st Half Goals	1
3	Shots on Target	7
3	Shots off Target	7
3	Blocked Shots	7
6	Corners	9
20	Fouls	13
3	Offsides	3
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
65.9	Passing Success	84
33	Tackles	19
78.8	Tackles Success	68.4
32.2	Possession	67.8
48.1	Territorial Advantage	51.9