Aston Villa vs Chelsea Post-Match Thread

[German James]

Unlucky to lose overall,  but the first Chelsea goal was the result of some pretfy half-hearted defending. Chelsea were nothing special but that was also because we harassed them so effectively.

Can we not refer to Benteke as Tekkers, please?

[Ron Manager]

Although most of us have said what a good game Delph and Sylla had it should be noted that Bennett is beginning to look like the real deal.

He's coming along nicely.

[avfc_1874]

This had similar vibes to the Liverpool home game a few weeks back & like then our naivety cost us a point.

The referee was just shit for both teams today.

[steamer]

Unlucky to lose overall,  but the first Chelsea goal was the result of some pretfy half-hearted defending. Chelsea were nothing special but that was also because we harassed them so effectively.

Can we not refer to Benteke as Tekkers,

Agree it is a crap name

[bertlambshank]

Mason was lenient with Benteke first time and slightly harsh second time, but both decisions were justifiable. I thought he handled a difficult game very well.

The baker yellow card was a terrible decision.

[levico]

Can't believe some posters are blaming Benteke. We wouldn't have anywhere near 40 points (still not enough IMO) without his goals.

Was today the start of a cruel twist of fate? Am I alone in thinking that Wigan may beat Aresenal. Very disappointed with Gabby and Weiman today. Can Bent fill Bentekes boots in the final game?

The angst is back.

[PaulWinch again]

Mason was lenient with Benteke first time and slightly harsh second time, but both decisions were justifiable. I thought he handled a difficult game very well.

The baker yellow card was a terrible decision.

Not in the context of modern football.

[olaftab]

Whilst one of his biggest fans I blame Paul Lambert for this defeat. In the last 20 mins  our midfielders were wasted and you could see that unless we make a change or two we will end up losing it and lose we did.  Sylla was brilliant today however in the last 15 both he and Westwood were on their last legs.  Paul needed to use the subs but he didn't.

[bertlambshank]

Mason was lenient with Benteke first time and slightly harsh second time, but both decisions were justifiable. I thought he handled a difficult game very well.

The baker yellow card was a terrible decision.

Not in the context of modern football.

Then modern football is fucked.

[mrastonvilla]

Feel slightly sorry that Benteke won't make 20 for the season. Thought the ref bottled the Terry decision first half.

[Dave]

Can't believe some posters are blaming Benteke. We wouldn't have anywhere near 40 points (still not enough IMO) without his goals.

I don't think anyone who is saying that he was stupid today in getting sent off has suggested otherwise.

[Jimbo]

Mason was lenient with Benteke first time and slightly harsh second time, but both decisions were justifiable. I thought he handled a difficult game very well.

The baker yellow card was a terrible decision.

It set the tone for a poor performance by the referee. Yet, as happens all too often, this poor refereeing performance favoured the 'bigger' club.

[Summers]

I'm still calm as a cucumber. We're safe in my mind. Wigan need a win against Arsenal, wont happen. We'll have them and others below us still and be safe by the time the last day gets here.

[PaulWinch again]

Mason was lenient with Benteke first time and slightly harsh second time, but both decisions were justifiable. I thought he handled a difficult game very well.

The baker yellow card was a terrible decision.

Not in the context of modern football.

Then modern football is fucked.

That's another debate, but if you lunge in like that and take the man and ball you get booked nowadays.

[SoccerHQ]

You always need to keep 11 on the pitch against the top 4...it's hard enough getting a result when you have 11 on the pitch.

No chance we'd have lost that with the full 11....Chelsea back 4 looked petrified of him and all our pace for the first hour....without him (and Gabby looking done for the last 30 minutes) we had nothing really going forward and Chelsea could just creep forward up the pitch and start to get their attacking players in the game.

Think Lambert should've thrown on N'zogbia at least to give us someone to run at Chelsea a bit.

Think this result will prove academic but yeah Wigan away needing to get something with no Benteke suddenly has a difficult look to it.

We looked likely to add to to the lead before benteke saw red and Chelsea looked stretched every time we attacked - his departure totally changed the match.

Yes those 15 minutes we had in the second half before Benteke departed were a missed opportunity as there were a few occasions around their box. No chance Chelsea would've won the game being 2 down even with the red card.

Obviously Lampard is a master of it, that's why he's scored 200 goals but there's no one in our central midfield who could've scored his second today e.g. making the forward run and timing it perfectly to tap in.

Once Lambert sorts out the defence, we need a more attack minded third central midfielder in there. I'm happy enough with Westwood being the sitter and dictating and I thought Sylla and Delph were excellent today at closing down and pressing Chelsea. Both have been good for a while now and have probably pushed Bannan through the exit catflap but I think next season it will have to be one of them rather than both as there is little goal threat in our central midfield unless N'zogbia plays there.