Villa showing signs of promise, but Blues are still an emotional basket-case of a club
Aston Villa’s display at Stamford Bridge proved two things.
The first was that Chelsea are still an emotional basket-case of a club, shorn of confidence and worried about the future of Carlo Ancelotti.
The second was that if Villa can replicate the intensity and the accomplishment of this performance in matches to come, they should move quickly away from the relegation zone.
Yesterday’s thrilling draw here still left them only two points clear of the bottom three following the miserable run of form that has seen them plummet down the table.
But even though Villa were fortunate their visit down the King’s Road allowed them to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerability, it was the kind of draw that will provide Gerard Houllier and his side with a significant boost in morale.
Chelsea are in the kind of form that can make opponents look better than they are, but Villa deserved their share of the spoils against the champions.
Brad Friedel was brilliant in goal, but Ashley Young was the pick of the bunch, tormenting the Chelsea defence, running at them and constantly prompting others.
As for Emile Heskey, trying to mark him looked about as easy as attempting to contain a fast-moving mountain, Stewart Downing was a threat from the flanks and Nigel Reo-Coker worked and tackled tirelessly in the centre.
Their collective performance lifted the sense of siege that has settled over the club in recent weeks, particularly after the lifeless 4-0 defeat at Manchester City last week.
Towards the end of the match, the Villa fans corralled at the Shed End sang the name of the embattled Houllier, the kind of tribute for which Roy Hodgson has been waiting in vain at Liverpool.
As Houllier pointed out afterwards, the result and the fact that Villa fought back to claim a point after going 3-2 down in injury time suggested a ‘togetherness’ at the club that bodes well for the rest of the season.
The ecstatic reaction of owner Randy Lerner to Ciaran Clark’s 92nd- minute equaliser as he leapt around in the directors’ box also pointed to a man committed to returning the club to a healthier position.
“I have to praise the players for their character and their reaction today,” Houllier said.
“We could not have got a result like that if we did not have a togetherness. This can be a turning point for us.
“It has been tough but I have never regretted leaving my job in France to take over at this club, particularly not on days like today when you are involved in games like this.
“On days like this, football is a game again.
“It was spectacular and it makes you remember how wonderful the game can be and how exciting it can be.”
Ancelotti did not share Houllier’s elation. The beauty of the occasion eluded him.
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