*Allback double sinks Chelsea*

Aston Villa eased any lingering relegation fears and dealt a blow to Chelsea’s Champions League hopes with a fine performance at a windswept Villa Park.

Two Marcus Allback strikes proved the difference, with the Swede volleying home in the 11th minute and adding a second 12 minutes from time, before John Terry’s late header for Chelsea.

And it was no more than Graham Taylor’s men deserved as they outplayed opponents who came into the match on the back of four successive wins.

The victory takes Aston Villa nine points clear of the relegation zone, and leaves Chelsea just two points ahead of Liverpool in the fourth Champions League place.

Chelsea failed to turn parity of possession into meaningful chances in the early stages, while Villa had several good opportunities to make the win more comfortable.

It was all Villa in the early stages and Carlo Cudicini was kept busy from shots by Gareth Barry and Thomas Hitzlsperger.

But Cudicini was powerless to stop Allback’s first, a right-volley after a sweeping move involving Barry and Joey Gudjonsson.

Gudjonsson was injured soon after and replaced by Steve Staunton, with Barry pushed into the left side of midfield.

Chelsea were fortunate not to concede a penalty when William Gallas looked to have brought down Allback, but play was waved on.

Moments later the visitors were on the attack and Zola played in Graeme Le Saux, whose cross was inches too high for Carlton Cole.

But Villa soon reasserted their authority, with Darius Vassell causing chaos in the Chelsea defence, and boss Claudio Ranieri went down the tunnel an angry-looking man at the break.

In a bid to turn things around, Ranieri brought on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for Mario Melchiot to link up with Zola and Cole.

It was an attacking move but the problems remained defensive, and Vassell split the Chelsea rearguard with a flick that sent Rob Edwards through on goal.

The young defender outpaced Marcel Desailly and produced a superb chip that beat Cudicini, but grazed the bar.

A dangerous cross from Edwards followed soon after but failed to find a Villa forward, and a second goal looked to be a matter of time.

Further penalty appeals were rejected after a challenge by Desailly on Hitzlsperger, and Staunton struck a powerful shot against the post in the 54th minute.

Chelsea’s first clear-cut chance of the match came on the hour when Cole played in Enrique de Lucas, but he fired over from eight yards.

Ranieri brought on Eidur Gudjohnsen and Celestine Babayaro for Zola and Le Saux with time running out, but it was Allback who again proved the sharpest, scoring his second in the 78th minute.

There were nervous final moments for Taylor’s men after Terry scored with a header in the 89th minute from a Hasselbaink corner.

The Dutchman then had a late chance for an equaliser with a free-kick from the edge on the area, but could not capitalise.

And while victory should ensure Premiership survival for Villa, it leaves Chelsea looking nervously over their shoulders with four games remaining.