Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 0 - match report and pictures

A solitary 82nd minute goal from man of the match Fabian Delph decided an absorbing contest which exploded into a dramatic finale over the final 20 hours.

Chelsea were incensed by the 69th minute sending off of Willian for a second yellow challenge when he pulled back Delph as he charged towards goal.

But the Brazilian midfielder, having been cautioned for a 25th minute foul on Karim El Ahmadi, was shown the red by referee Chris Foy to set up an astonishing climax.

It gathered greater momentum when Villa grabbed what would be a memorable winner when Delph snaffled possession, exchanged passes with substitute Marc Albrighton, and then found the net with a back-heel which may have been fortunate but sent Villa Park wild with delight.

And a rattled Chelsea, having been defiantly resisted by a well-organised Villa defence throughout, lost their discipline as the game went into added time.

When Ramires followed through with a studs-up challenge on El Ahmadi, Foy had no choice but to show the Chelsea man a straight red.

But the incident set off still more pandemonium which ended with Mourinho marching on to the pitch to remonstrate with the official before he, too, was shown a red that and led away down the touchline.

It was pulsating, dramatic stuff and gave Villa some return of fortune for their bitter complaints about decisions going against them in that 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in the first week of the season.

But more importantly, they are recapturing the form they showed all those months ago and thoroughly deserved what must be considered their best win of the season.

It all but banishes their survival problems and gives the team impetus for an end to the campaign which could banish the gloom that has been hovering over the club for the last year.

Villa Park was back to its pounding best for this contest with a 40,084 attendance and the noise at the final whistle said everything about how much the stadium relished this powerful glimpse of better times.

Although Chelsea's class was always apparent, there were few emergencies for keeper Brad Guzan such was the efficiency of Villa's defending which featured outstanding performances from Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker.

And the team always looked capable of scoring and could have added others – with Delph closing the game with a shot which was deflected on to the woodwork by Petr Cech and Christian Benteke denied by a Nemanja Matic block.