Aston Villa v Chelsea: Goals, Ghost Goals, Red Cards, Injuries and Number Two Oh Three

Torres and Mata celebrate Lampard's 203rd
Eden Hazard celebrates Torres' bottom

After Chelsea slipped up against Spurs in their Champions League spot playoff of sorts - or a trophy as Arsenal see it - they only had two games left to guarantee their futures. The CL is more than just a jaunt to the continent, but could also be the defining factor in a special return, what players could be in and out over the summer. But it wasn’t like Chelsea were taking on someone they’d knocked in eight against over Christmas ... 

Of course the 66 other games Chelsea have somehow managed to play have begun to take their toll on bodies and minds. It’s the only sensible explanation for Ramires’ ‘performance’ yesterday. Two rash challenges and Lee Mason decided to improve Chelsea’s chances by sending him for an early shower. 

A goal and a man down going into the second half, you’d think Chelsea were facing a team who were in a relegation battle and needed a win to guarantee their safety. And with tactical wizard Bentiez at the helm, what could go wrong? Well, er, nothing this time. Or nothing that he could control anyways. 

It didn’t take long for Benteke to work out that the dynamic duo of Azpilicueta and Cahill were something he could manage. Elbowing Azpilicueta in the face certainly helped things along. He needed a little extra something to handle John Terry - and for that joined Ramires on the naughty step. And although Chelsea will miss Ramires’ pace and misplaced passes, Villa could find themselves in a spot of bother next week as they face FA Cup champions Wigan as they both fight for survival without their main man.

With Demba Ba leading the front line, the real question was whether Chelsea would be able to overcome the deficit. With Lampard just a goal short of his record, with Chelsea just short of a goal record, with a CL spot to play for, it was always going to be one man to score. Frank Lampard’s relationship with Villa is not unlike Drogba’s with Arsenal. He has flirted with Bolton quite a few times, but Villa have really had to take it from him. 

The things most people won’t remember about this match - that it has made Benitez only our second (interim) manager to win more than 25 games in the last seven. That Gary Cahill scored - but it didn’t count. That Moses was on the pitch. That Benitez made a sound tactical substitution when he put Luiz on. And another one with the addition of Torres. That the record was broken for most goals scored in a season - by Chelsea (143).

Where all those goals came from. Other sporting
goods brands are available but aren't #allin

Yesterday’s game will all be about Frank Lampard and *those* goals. Numbers 202 and 203. Equaling and breaking Bobby Tambling's record to drag Chelsea kicking and screaming back into Big Cup competition just before Thursday Night Cup (on Wednesday night). With Terry off having some personal time with Eva, Lampard was wearing the captain’s armband while he broke the record. Timing - and the odd deflection - have been the trademark of Lampard’s goal scoring, and he certainly couldn’t have timed those goals better. What began as a shocker of a performance turned into an emotional day out for the club and its supporters. Champions League and smashing records.

There are only three players in the Premier League to have scored more goals than Frank Lampard - and they are all strikers. Three. Scholes is the only central midfielder to come close to Lampard’s achievement - and he’s had to play fifty-eight seasons and an un-retirement to come that close. It might be time for the club to finally pony up with that contract and stop mincing about. Every goal scored, every record broken just highlights the mugs in the boardroom. 

A better time with a pitch invader than one took a
swing at him

Lampard, unlike Ramires, was aware of his previous booking so managed to not leap into the crowd to celebrate. He let the crowd come to him. As a few mischievous fans managed to get over the barriers and past security. Excellent work from Luiz and Cahill to try and thwart some of the security to allow these fans to be part of the day. 

Arguably the best £11 million that has ever been spent by Chelsea. And on the day that Lampard was breaking club records, the man that signed him, Claudio Ranieri has lead Monaco back to Ligue 1. And warm and fuzzy day for players and former players with tributes all over social media networking sites flooding in. Will Lampard add to his goal tally in Amsterdam, or was his start against Villa indicative of him starting final from the bench?

He’s not the only question mark for Wednesday. John Terry could face another year of terribly photoshopped ‘jokes’ if Chelsea do manage to leave Amsterdam with more than a few special brownies. Terry’s injury saw him stretchered off and leaves him in doubt along with Eden Hazard. Hazard will be a necessary addition to keep Moses off the pitch bolster the midfield. But it’s Terry that really needs to lead the team out. And hope to win it without heading to penalties.

Amsterdam - we are coming.

jb x

Unsavoury notes: I'll let the 'Let him die' song aimed at Terry from Villa's support go as it's not really the worst thing he's heard. Odd on the day of such beautiful tributes to their own captain from both sets of fans. But not wholly unexpected after the previous coming togethers of Terry and Benteke. 

However, the fans of a club not to be named that took to twitter to have a go about Lampard's mum is just pathetic. All you did was force Ashley Cole to go hash tag mad. But for a group of supporters who demand such respect and reverence for those that they lost - for them to continually address Pat Lampard is a special kind of sick irony. Get over it. Get on with it. Don't make Ashley Cole call you out on twitter. Fairplay to Ash though for welcoming abuse upon himself and defend Lampard and his mother.