Chelsea 1, Aston Villa 2: Blues Jeered Off as Super Sub Ollie Watkins Shines with Two Goals, Securing Villans' 11th Consecutive Victory!

A GAME that was supposed to be all about who should be England’s No 10 was settled by Aston Villa’s No 11.

Former Three Lions hero Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score two centre-forward’s goals and give Morgan Rogers the bragging rights over friend and rival Cole Palmer.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at ChelseaCredit: Getty The defeat saw Chelsea slump to fifth in the tableCredit: PA

Rogers laid on both Watkins’ goals to win that personal duel with Palmer.

But until Watkins came on just before the hour as part of a triple substitution by Villa boss Unai Emery, Chelsea were deservedly heading for victory thanks to Joao Pedro’s flukey first-half goal.

Emery’s switches changed the game and perhaps even the title race.

Rogers played in Watkins to equalise with his own stroke of fortune.

But there was nothing lucky about how Villa went on to win the game or about Watkins’ emphatic header from Rogers’ corner.

“We’re gonna win the league,” sang the gleeful visiting fans.

And they just might you know.

Chelsea won’t after yet again dropping points from a winning position.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca, banned from the touchline after receiving his third yellow card of the season, sat in the back of tthe press box, with an earpiece and mic to communicate to the bench.

From pretty much the worst seat in the house, the Blues boss watched (as best he could) his team totally dominate the first half.

The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was surprisingly flat, as it has often been this season. You would not have known this was the biggest game of the festive weekend.

Palmer had a good chance inside two minutes to light the Blue touchpaper. But after Moises Caicedo’s scooped pass wrongfooted Youri Tielemans, the Chelsea No 10 fired wide. It was the sort of chance he would usually bury.

Another good opening arrived in the 18th minute, when Palmer and Alejandro Garnacho combined to tee up Enzo Fernandez.

But the Blues midfielder bent his effort wide of the far post.

While Maresca sat in the stand, Villa counterpart Unai Emery was prowling the touchline, applauding his team whenever they stopped another Chelsea attack.

There was some needle in the air, with Marc Cucurella and Rogers somehow avoiding yellow cards for pushing each other.

In the aftermath, Emery and Cucurella exchanged a few choice words. Presumably in Spanish, and from the look on the Villa boss’ face in particular, not about their respective hair care regimes.

Villa were defending doggedly, winning important headers and blocking shots, biut needing Martinez block an effort from Joao Pedro from inside the six-yard box.

But the visiting goalkeeper then allowed himself to be beaten from even closer range.

Martinez was far too busy wrestling with compatriot Fernandez and then Joao Pedro to focus on the flight of the ball.

It seemed as if James’ corner had straight in and the stadium announcer credited the goal to the Blues captain.

But replays showed it had brushed Joao Pedro on its way.

The slight good fortune was no more than Chelsea – or Villa – deserved.

Emery’s 4-2-2-2 formation was failing to deliver any attacking threat beyond an early two v two. Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile were handling Rogers and Donyell Malen with ease.

In fact they completed more passes between them in the opening 45 minutes (104) than the entire Villa team (100).

When Rogers curled a shot over the bar long after the whistle had gone for an infringement, the Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand told him he was “just a s**t” Cole Palmer”.

Harsh, but something needed to change if Villa were to take anything from the game.

Nothing much did for a little while.

as Chelsea continued to control the game. Palmer played a lovely one-two with Joao Pedro and only great defending from John McGinn prevented a tap-in for Garnacho.

Martinez had to be alert to tip over a James cross which threatened to become a deadly shot.

When Villa earned a corner, James and Rogers cuddled each other to a yellow card apiece.

Emery had finally seen enough and made a triple change just before the hour. On came Watkins, Amadou Onana and former Chelsea loanee Jadon Sancho.

It almost paid off immediately, when Watkins played in Boubacar Kamara, only for Robert Sanchez to save well.

But moments later, the Chelsea ‘keeper was less fortunate. Watkins turned Rogers’ fine pass into a great chance with a lovely turn and first touch. Sanchez saved the initial shot but the ball ricocheted back off Watkins and into the net.

The momentum had swung. Sanchez kept out a fierce effort from Ian Maatsen after another flowing move and final ball from Rogers.

Then the Chelsea’ keeper saved from Watkins after the England striker ran on to Cash’s long pass.

Maresca ordered a triple substitution of his own. Palmer was not impressed when he soon became the fourth home player to be taken off, with Estevao replacing him.

It was the Villa fans’ turn to tell Palmer he was a poor version of Rogers, just before their hero curled a free kick on to the roof of the net.

The visitors had the last laugh, too.

Rogers curled in a corner and Watkins powered the ball home with a brilliant header.

Sancho almost rubbed Chelsea’s noses in it, but Sanchez saved.

Then the Chelsea ‘keeper slipped and carried the ball out of his penalty area, before saving the resulting Lucas Digne free kick.

But there was no rescuing Chelsea from the one-two combination Rogers and Watkins.