At the double: Mason Mount notched a brace as Chelsea beat Aston Villa despite an unconvincing display
(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)Mason Mount scored twice as Graham Potter’s Chelsea won again in the Premier League despite a below-par display against Aston Villa.
The England playmaker - passed fit to play on Sunday after a precautionary scan on a thigh issue - capitalised on a dreadful early Tyrone Mings blunder before notching an excellent second-half free-kick that wrong-footed Emi Martinez as his side made it five successive victories across all competitions under their new head coach, who has yet to be beaten since leaving Brighton for the Blues last month.
A disappointing 2-0 defeat only heaps more pressure on under-fire Villa boss Steven Gerrard, whose team actually impressed for the most part here, not lacking effort and intensity and fashioning multiple first-half chances only to find Kepa Arrizabalaga in inspired form in the Chelsea goal.
The Spaniard made no fewer than six strong saves before the break, including somehow tipping Danny Ings’ header over the crossbar from point-blank range, while the fit-again Leon Bailey rattled the woodwork along with Raheem Sterling, who played in a variety of positions as Potter instigated several changes of system and formation throughout a largely disjointed performance.
A sixth victory of the season leaves Chelsea fourth in the table and four points behind Tottenham with a game in hand and a west London derby against Brentford to come in midweek, before Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, struggling Villa stay 16th having won just two of their 10 games so far this term, only one point above the relegation zone with seven goals scored amid more questions over Gerrard’s future.
