IF football teams could choose the time and place to ply their trade, Aston Villa would surely be sitting pretty in the First Division.

During the course of any campaign, though, you are required to play certain games in midweek and to make a number of visits to London.

For some inexplicable reason, Villa seem incapable of coping with either situation.

Yet at Stamford Bridge last night, Villa could have laid both their phobias to rest in the space of 90 minutes.

Despite a low-key performance, there was certainly no shortage of chances against an ordinary Chelsea side, but not for the first time this term, Villa's finishing left much to be desired.

Even before the infamous Vinny Jones gave Chelsea a 22nd minute lead, lan Olney had marked his recall with a close range shot against the bar when he should really have scored, and sent another drive flashing just beyond the far post.

The England under-21 striker was also unfortunate when he moved on to a 47th minute Cyrille Regis pass, brilliantly wrong-footed former Villa man Paul Elliott, and hit a 35-yard chip which had 6ft 41n goalkeeper Dave Beasant reaching frantically to keep the ball out.

That would have been an exquisite goal, and if you want to stretch the hard luck story to the limit, Atkinson's side had two penalty appeals turned down.

But after that man Jones had gratefully accepted the space afforded him by some appalling marking, it was an uphill struggle for Villa.

Andy Townsend put the issue beyond doubt with a classy second on 58 minutes, and Villa, for all their spending, fell disappointingly short in that department.