Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins and John McGinn pile the pressure on under-fire Graham Potter

The respite for Graham Potter, has not lasted long. If he thought he had seen the back of it he was sadly mistaken.

Those three successive pressure-easing wins which suggested a corner has been turned are already a distant memory, even though the last of them was just a few weeks ago.

A frustrating draw against Everton after conceding a last-minute equaliser before the international break followed by this desperate home defeat to Aston Villa have quickly wiped away that early March optimism.

Chelsea were booed off by some at half-time and all who remained at full-time, the volume of them significantly cranked up following Andrew Madley’s final whistle.

Worse than that, a small pocket of home fans chanted ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ towards Potter after Villa doubled their lead early in the second-half through John McGinn’s fine drought-ending strike. Soon after came a chorus from the Villa end of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning.’

Aston Villa recorded their first away win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League since 2011 after strikes from Watkins and McGinn

Ollie Watkins scored for Aston Villa inside 18 minutes to take the lead against Chelsea after a poor piece of defending from Marc Cucurella

Chelsea’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end in front of their home fans after their 2-0 defeat to Villa on Saturday

The pressure was once more piled on Graham Potter’s shoulders after his side were forced into the bottom half of the table

Worryingly for Potter, who saw a defensive gamble backfire, a section of Chelsea fans joined in too.

The return of Potter and Chelsea’s problems overshadowed a brilliant victory for Unai Emery’s Villa, a fourth in five unbeaten games, and a historic day for Ollie Watkins.

He struck once again to set visitors on their way and, in doing so, became the first Villa player to score in five successive Premier League away games.

He should have done it inside the opening seven minutes when there was a great chance apiece.

Chelsea had the first presented to them by Villa. Emi Martinez played a short pass to Boubacar Kamara who was just outside his box, still looking a bit uncomfortable following an early knock and not fully aware of what was around him.

That was Mykhailo Mudryk who nicked the ball off the Villa midfielder but saw his shot deflected over the bar off the outstretched leg of Martinez, who made amends after putting his teammate in trouble.

Kamara, meanwhile, limped on but only until half-time when he was replaced by Calum Chambers.

Villa’s early opportunity was equally good.

McGinn’s pass sent the in-form Watkins away, his first touch pushed the ball perfectly into his stride but his final one saw him drag the ball badly wide. He was just getting his bearings it turned out.

First, though, McGinn hit the bar with a first-time sweeping effort after Chelsea failed to make the most of a promising counter attack opportunity before Villa’s next attack ended with the opener.

Douglas Luiz attempted pass should have been cut out by Chelsea who had enough bodies back.

But the better-positioned Kalidou Koulibaly didn’t communicate with Marc Cucurella, whose header on the stretch only bounced perfectly into the path of Watkins who made no mistake this time, lobbing coolly over the helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Potter had appeared to gamble with his line-up, starting natural full-backs Reece James and Cucurella as the wide centre-backs in his back three when he had Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile on the bench.

He did not need one of those he had selected to contribute to Chelsea’s downfall. Chelsea’s response was purposeful as they pushed for an equaliser.

Joao Felix forced Martinez into a sharp save down low to his right, Ben Chilwell appealed in vain for a penalty, Kai Havertz saw a shot saved and Enzo Fernandez headed wide.

Villa initially threatened only sporadically after scoring, encouraged by Chelsea’s carelessness in possession.

And, from one attack, Chelsea countered, Mateo Kovacic split Villa’s defence with a brilliant pass that was not matched by Mudryk’s finish, too tame when he had far more time and perhaps a reflection of a player low on confidence.

Chelsea kept pushing. Chilwell hit the outside of the post following another inventive Kovacic pass before a couple of corners and a Chilwell volleyed cross caused panic in the Villa box.

Chelsea deserved an equaliser from their 14 first-half attempts and 70 per cent possession.

They thought they had one when Chilwell climbed above Ashley Young to head in Fernandez’s cross just before half-time only for referee Madley to correctly spot that a two-handed push had helped Chelsea’s wingback get above the Villa defender.

The pattern of Chelsea pressure continued after the break and Unai Emery displayed how precious each chance to counter would be, burying his head in his hands in anguish when careless Villa passes saw the ball handed straight back to their hosts.

Tyrone Mings and Konsa combined to block out Felix when Chelsea threatened again before Cucurella blazed over.

Chelsea, though, continued to be frustrated, needed a real lift and were preparing one with N’Golo Kante being readied to make his first first-team appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in August.

But first they were dealt another huge blow when Villa kept their attack alive from a corner kick, the impressive Jacob Ramsey squared for the unmarked John McGinn who charged onto the ball and bent it perfectly into Kepa’s bottom corner, scoring his first goal since November 2021.

It meant Kante’s long-awaited return came in desperate circumstances though he had a great chance to start the comeback but fired wide from fellow sub Noni Madueke’s pass.

Kante undoubtedly pepped up Chelsea but he could not solve their inability to turn possession and attempts into a goal.

And it was Villa sub Leon Bailey who came as close as anyone with their first attempt since going 2-0 up, a vicious effort that fizzed just wide of Kepa’s top corner.

But Villa had already done enough damage by then. More than enough in fact to claim victory and heap pressure back on Potter.