Allback in the vanguard for revitalised Villa

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 1

Having pottered around the foothills of the Premiership all season, Aston Villa were in danger of leaving themselves a mountain to climb. This was their third match in a sequence against the top five teams and victory had already become a dim, distant memory before that.

This vibrant win dispelled any lingering relegation fears and the buccaneering manner in which it was acquired, especially in the first half, restored vital confidence.

For Chelsea it was a wretched display – their worst this season, said manager Claudio Ranieri. "I will not be watching the video," he said. "Once was enough." Indeed. Having arrived here with third place in their sights, four wins in a row, and an impressive record against Villa to protect, they froze. "We played very badly and we deserved to lose. Aston Villa were better than us in every challenge, every tackle." Fortunately for Ranieri, other results went for Chelsea.

They were also lucky to finish with 11 after Marcel Desailly, in the dying minutes, aimed an elbow at Darius Vassell as, again, the striker outpaced him. Amazingly, it went unpunished in another erratic display by referee Rob Styles.

Villa epitomised vim and vigour. Graham Taylor resisted recalling top-scorer Dion Dublin – available after a ban for his head-butt on Robbie Savage – and his faith in Marcus Allback was rewarded with two goals.

The first owed much to the excellent Gareth Barry, whose driven crossfield pass found Joey Gudjonsson, and from his ball in it was Barry who made the ground to chest down into Allback's path. He smashed it past Carlo Cudicini.

When Gudjonsson limped off, Barry moved seamlessly into the centre of midfield, where he eclipsed Frank Lampard. His powerful, thoughtful display only furthered the debate over his continued exclusion from the England squad. Even Taylor, who as a former national team manager has made it his policy not to discuss selections, questioned why. "The season he has had deserves me promoting him a bit," he said. "The boy is a very good player."

Preparations were dominated by news of Villa chairman Doug Ellis's prostate cancer. Still, aged 79, he continues to work and arrived at Villa Park to be greeted by another pillorying in the club fanzine Heroes and Villans. Nothing new there then.

For Chelsea, there were, once more, changes by the Tinkerman. Ranieri re-shuffled to again accommodate the prodigious, if raw, talent of 19-year-old Carlton Cole with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink paying for his recent profligacy.

Indeed Cole had the confidence – or cockiness – to upbraid Gianfranco Zola for misreading one of his runs. In truth, the partnership appeared disjointed and the lively Vassell should have put Villa further ahead when he was picked out by Jlloyd Samuel inside the six-yard box. His flicked shot was weak.

Chelsea were in desperate need of re-organising as their attempts to slow the tempo were thwarted. After the break, Hasselbaink emerged. Within three minutes he was shrugging his shoulders having been dispossessed.

Then, Villa were unlucky. Young full-back Rob Edwards burst through, taking advantage of John Terry's slip, and was composed and skilled enough to chip Cudicini. The ball clipped the bar. Even Steve Staunton was in on the act, shooting just wide from Allback's lay-off.

Villa, rampant, needed and deserved a second goal, especially when Lampard cut inside and struck just wide. Nerves began to fray but then Thomas Hitzlsperger hoisted the ball in, Vassell out-jumped the defenders and Allback twisted his body cleverly to make room and half-volley home. A fine finish to a fine performance and despite John Terry's late header, Villa had done more than enough.

Aston Villa 2
Allback 11, 78

Chelsea 1
Terry 89

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 39,358