Chelsea missed a chance to return to the top of the English Premier League on Sunday when they crashed to their first defeat of the season, going down 2-0 at Aston Villa.
Missing England [Images] midfielder Frank Lampard [Images], who suffered a thigh strain in training on Friday, Chelsea struggled for any attacking rhythm and were beaten by second half goals from debutant central defender Zat Knight and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
It was Chelsea's first defeat in 19 league outings and extended their bad run at 'bogey' ground Villa Park to nine matches without a win.
The Birmingham stadium also remains the only one in the Premier League where Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has not tasted victory.
The result left Chelsea fourth, level on 10 points with the leading trio Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton, and one point ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City who lost 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn v Manchester City match centre commentary
Arsenal had earlier beaten Portsmouth 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half.
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