Match Report: Chelsea 0 - 1 Aston Villa

 

Another disappointing afternoon for Chelsea, as a red card and the continual failure to take chances cost them yet again.

A decent enough first half, Chelsea had a few good chances. Emilio Martinez in the Villa goal produced a good save from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez also had a decent effort from the edge of the box but was just off target.

Axel Disasi did manage to head the ball in the Villa net shortly before half-time but was (correctly) adjudged offside.

Chelsea didn't have it all their own way though as Robert Sanchez made a couple of fine saves from Lucas Digne and Nicolo Zaniolo.

There was a bizarre incident at the end of the first half when the referee Jared Gillett (who will not be welcome back at Stamford Bridge any time soon) blew for half time on 47 minutes, when three minutes had been held up on the board.

Chelsea started the second half brightly and were the team in control but the game changed on 57 minutes. Malang Gusto went in for a tackle on Digne and after a lengthy VAR check, referee Gillett decided was worthy of a red card.

Villa had to wait til 72 minutes to take the lead, an effort by Ollie Watkins from a tight angle squeezing through Sanchez's legs.

Frustratingly, it wasn't even the case that with the man advantage Aston Villa dominated the play. Chelsea continued to make chances, most notably from substitutes Ben Chilwell and Cole Palmer but predictably failed to take any of them.

Tempting though it is to blame everything on the red card, really its Chelsea's inability to score that is catching them out.

In the calendar year of 2023, Chelsea have managed just 37 goals in all competitions. That record is simply not good enough at any level of the game. Especially not at Chelsea.

Line-Up: Sanchez, Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Caicedo (Broja 79'), Gallagher, Sterling, Fernandez (Ugochukwu 67'), Mudryk (Chilwell 61'), Jackson (Palmer 67')

Unused Subs: Cucurella, Petrovic, Maatsen, Washington, Bergstrom

John Terry: Not a Monster

When the name 'John Terry' is mentioned to a non-Chelsea fan, to say it doesn't get a positive reaction is an understatement. Terry has become a pantomime villain type figure in football, a boogeyman to frighten children with.

Sometimes it seems like if John Terry were to say something as innoccous as 'It's a nice day today.' the internet would instantly be alive with opposition fans spilling their vitriol. "WHO IS JOHN TERRY TO SAY WHAT IS A NICE DAY! THERE IS A DISTINCT BIT OF CLOUD IN AN OTHERWISE CLEAR SKY, SO NO IT'S NOT A NICE DAY. TYPICAL ARROGANT CHAV, LOL!!!"

 Read through the popular press and you'll be hard pressed to find much positive written about him. Even an average match report will invariably carry reference to one of his past transgressions. Terry might well just be the most hated man in British football.

So it makes a pleasant surprise to for once, see a story in the press that actually casts Terry in a good light.
John Terry has been invited to take part in a charity match for former Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder Stylian Petrov, who retired from football in 2011 after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Petrov cites Terry as being one of the first to get in touch with him after his diagnosis came through. He also tells how Terry sent him numerous texts and messages during his recovery. When Petrov told Terry he was arranging a charity match, he cites how Terry jumped at the opportunity 'Just tell me where and when.'

What is perhaps most remarkable in this story is that Petrov notes there was no real relationship between the two prior to his illness other than on the pitch and a few chance meetings. "He doesn't have an easy time with fans but I have seen a very different man to that image."

Terry will never be regarded as a 'nice guy' but he's certainly not the monster he's been made out to be.

Full story: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/stiliyan-petrov-says-john-terry-2258711?