A defiant Martin O’Neill vowed Villa will bounce back from their week of misery following the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

The Blues dealt a blow to the claret and blues’ Champions League hopes, as Nicolas Anelka’s 19th-minute strike separated the sides at Villa Park.

It meant Guus Hiddink’s Stamford Bridge reign got off to the perfect start but, more significantly for Villa, they now find themselves back behind the Blues in fourth position in the Premier League.

The defeat brought the curtain down on a thoroughly disappointing week for O’Neill’s side, who exited the FA Cup at Everton’s last Sunday and head to Russia this week facing an uphill battle after conceded an away goal to CSKA Moscow in Wednesday’s 1-1 UEFA Cup draw.

He admitted Villa’s hectic schedule is beginning to take its toll but he insisted they remained good value for at least a point, after Ashley Young hit the crossbar with a free-kick and Gabby Agbonlahor and Gareth Barry spurned good chances.

O’Neill said: “I think the exertions of the last week did have an effect on us. I felt that we were leggy to begin with and Chelsea were very quickly into their game.

“But from the moment Ashley Young hit the bar with his free-kick I felt we got into the match. At half-time I thought we could win it, so did the players.

“A lot of conclusions will be drawn from this one game but I have my own thoughts and I can assure you there will be no dent in belief.

“I’m not giving a message that’s different to the one in the dressing room.”

It was Villa’s first home defeat against one of the big four this season after draws with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool and only their second Premier League loss at Villa Park this term.

Chelsea boss Hiddink admitted he was delighted to leave the Midlands with three points given that record.

He said: “It’’s a very good start in new circumstances and a new situation. It is important – if you see Villa’s home record, it’s good we could break that.

“What pleased me most was the first half, we played very good football, had good possession and were dangerous.

“The only thing we didn’t do was score a second to kill the game.”