CHELSEA kept their Premiership survival hopes alive with a tooth and-nail defence of a single goal against Villa to give them a first home win since October.

Steve Staunton, recovered from a hamstring injury, played a long ball towards Dean Saunders after five minutes but Chelsea keeper Dmitrl Kharine nipped in to collect before Villa's leading scorer could capitalise.

A minute later Andy Townsend played a dangerous low ball in from the left but Eriand Johnsen hacked it over his own bar.

A minute after that, Chelsea striker Paul Furlong was booked for a foul on lan Taylor and, on 11 minutes, Saunders, fit again after suffering from bronchitis, shot on the turn from 20 yards but Kharine blocked his effort.

Townsend was wide with a shot after 18 minutes. Then Chelsea flickered into life when Mark Stein broke down the left and crossed beyond Mark Bosnich, but Alan Wright headed behind for a corner.

A minute later Villa had their best chance yet when Steve Clarke played a backpass aimed for Kharine, into the path of Saunders, who cut inside, but dragged his shot wide.

After 22 minutes Chelsea's David Lee swung In a free kick from the left and Frank Sinclair headed over.

Chelsea defender Jakob Kjeldbjerg limped off with an apparent hamstring injury after 31 minutes, being replaced by Gareth Hall.

Two minutes later, a corner for Lee on the right reached Gavin Peacock, who headed over.

After 42 minutes, Chelsea broke the deadlock when Furlong on the left found Stein, who cut inside and buried a shot past Bosnich.