Chelsea's Premier League title hopes have taken a major blow this afternoon courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.
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Fabian Delph scored the only goal of the game with just eight minutes to play to hand Villa a valuable victory, leaving nine-man Chelsea just six points clear at the top having played three games more than second-placed Manchester City.
The visitors threatened Villa's goal in the 11th minute when Willian was afforded space to shoot from outside the box, but his effort hit the side-netting as Brad Guzan watched it go wide.
Willian turned provider moments later, linking up with his compatriot Oscar, who curled a first-time effort just a yard wide of the post.
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Villa almost took the lead in spectacular fashion with just six minutes to go until the break, as Christian Benteke produced an acrobatic volley from outside the box that flew narrowly wide.
Chelsea thought that they had broken the deadlock just two minutes later when Nemanja Matic squeezed the ball over the line at the back post, but the goal was disallowed for a handball against the Serbian midfielder.
The visitors came close again five minutes after the restart when Eden Hazard's cross was diverted towards goal by a Villa defender, forcing Guzan into a sharp stop to prevent an own goal.
Benteke then had a glorious chance to score in the 65th minute when he exchanged passes with Andreas Weimann before bending an effort just past the post.
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Chelsea's task was made all the more difficult with 20 minutes of the match remaining when Willian received a second yellow card for a foul on Delph.
The hosts almost took full advantage of this in the 81st minute when Ron Vlaar rose highest inside the box to nod a corner just wide.
The Villans wouldn't have to wait much longer for the opening goal, however, taking the lead just one minute later. Delph gave the ball out wide to Weimann before flicking the return pass past Petr Cech in sublime fashion.
Villa threatened again on the counter as Chelsea poured forward in the search for an equaliser, with Benteke forcing a save from Cech with a stinging drive from 20 yards.
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Delph almost sealed the points in the third minute of stoppage time when Cech make a mess of dealing with his shot, sending the effort looping up and off the bar.
A miserable afternoon was compounded late on for the visitors as they were reduced to nine men when Ramires was shown a straight red for a poor challenge on Karim El Ahmadi.
Barney Corkhill
