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Villa downed by renewed Chelsea attack

CHELSEA got their Premiership title challenge back on course but the alarm bells are ringing for Aston Villa as they slumped to their seventh home defeat this season.

Goals from Mark Hughes on his 34th birthday and substitute Tore Andre Flo enabled Chelsea to bounce back from their shock reversal at Bolton last Sunday.

But Villa looked a dispirited side by the final whistle and manager Brian Little faces a massive challenge to lift them for Tuesday's crunch UEFA Cup clash with Athletic Bilbao.

It is no wonder that he will this week step up his search to bring in new blood by scouring Europe after failing in his attempt to land Paul Gascoigne.

The first half was an enjoyable spectacle with both sides having spells when they had the other on the rack with Mark Draper impressive in midfield for Villa and Frank Lebouef breaking forward with good effect from the back to set up several Chelsea attacks.

But the confidence seemed to drain out of Villa from the moment Dwight Yorke, who now gone nine games without a goal, sent his spot-kick into the Holte End mid-way through the period.

It was not a vintage performance by Ruud Gullit's side but they always threatened to pose problems on the counter-attack despite another promising display at the back for Villa by England Under-21 skipper Riccardo Scimeca.

Villa were the first to settle and Fernando Nelson had a good chance at the far post after Simon Grayson had flicked a Julian Joachim centre into his path but the ball would not sit up and his eventual shot was blocked.

Chelsea then enjoyed a purple patch and Hughes had one shot deflected just wide but should then have buried a golden chance. Gianfranco Zola's right wing centre picked out the Welsh international at the far post but from four yards out he stubbed his shot and stand-in Villa 'keeper Michael Oakes was able to block his effort.

Villa retaliated after surviving that storm and thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute via a Joachim glancing header from a long throw by Gary Charles but referee Steve Dunn ruled that the Villa striker had fouled Andy Myers.

Villa were presented with a gift-wrapped opportunity in the 23rd minute when Dwight Yorke was hauled down by Myers just inside the area. But Yorke. who had missed successive penalties against Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle last season, was again off target from the spot as he blasted high and wide.

It was then Chelsea's turn to enjoy a patch of dominance and this time Hughes made no mistake when handed another chance in the 38th minute. Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair looked to be holding down Ugo Ehiogu as a centre from Dan Petrescu picked out Hughes at the far post. Oakes got a hand on the close range downward header from the former Manchester United star but was unable to keep it out of the net.

The second half failed to produce the excitement and skill of the opening 45 minutes and the confidence looked to be visibly draining out of Villa with a series of misplaced passes.

Zola and Hughes both had efforts ruled out for offside although Villa had most of the initial possession but seldom looked like capitalising on it.

Little brought on lan Taylor and Savo Milosevic to try and salvage something from the game in the final half hour at the expense of Nelson and Joachim.

The first hint of any excitement after the break did not arrive until the 70th minute when a 25-yard free-kick from Zola flashed inches wide.

But Villa at last galvanised themselves into action when a 20 yard rocket shot from Draper was tipped around the post by Ed de Goey but it was too little, too late.

With Villa at home to Atletico Bilbao on Tuesday. manager Brian Little tried to remain positive: "In the first half we played some good football but from the moment they went 1-0 up they never looked back.

"We were disappointed to be behind at half-time but in the second half we did not have too many ideas in the final third.

"In this sort of situation you have to dig deep. be strong. and make things happen. We hope we can put things right in time for Tuesday."