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ASTON VILLA 1-4 CHELSEA: Full Blues player ratings from Villa Park as Joao Pedro inspired the visitors to a crucial three points at Villa Park on Wednesday evening
Joao Pedro was the hat-trick hero as Chelsea moved back into fifth place and within three points of Aston Villa after coming from a goal behind to comfortably win at Villa Park.
It took Villa just two minutes to open the scoring in front of their own supporters. Some great work from Leon Bailey on the right wing saw him set up Douglas Luiz, whose backheel proved too much for Filip Jorgensen.
On 35 minutes, though, Chelsea levelled through Joao Pedro. The Brazil international had a tap-in at the Holte End after some great work from Enzo Fernandez and Malo Gusto to set the opportunity up.
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Ollie Watkins thought he restored Villa's advantage but after a VAR check, the striker was deemed offside. Joao Pedro then doubled his tally to put the Blues ahead at Villa Park, after a VAR check for that one as well.
Chelsea started the second half the better side with Cole Palmer's wonderful finish handing the visitors a two-goal advantage in the Midlands. Joao Pedro put the game beyond any doubt whatsoever with his hat-trick goal after Alejandro Garnacho squared the ball to the Brazilian for another tap-in.
A huge win for Chelsea - their first in the league at Villa Park since October 2022. Bobby Vincent was live at Villa Park to bring you the full Chelsea player ratings below:
Filip Jorgensen - A shock inclusion in the side. His first league start in two months. Not much he can do about Luiz's goal. Jorgensen made a couple of decent saves to deny Ollie Watkins. Did well. 6
Malo Gusto - Gusto returned to right-back for the Blues. Kept giving it away early on when Chelsea were under pressure and needed cool heads. After a sloppy start, Gusto redeemed himself 35 minutes in, with an inch-perfect cross towards Joao Pedro for the equaliser. 7
Wesley Fofana - The French defender returned to the Chelsea back line after serving his suspension against Arsenal. He got lucky around midway through the first half where he went down after a collision with Watkins but the Aston Villa striker made a mess of his one-on-one opportunity. Fofana needed to be stronger. Sloppy performance all in all. 5
Trevoh Chalobah - Chalobah was solid. He did really well to get back in line with Watkins and pressure him to mess up a one-on-one after his centre-back partner Fofana fell to the floor too easily. 7
Jorrel Hato - Kept his place on the left-hand side of defence. Should have been closer to Bailey for the opening goal of the game. Hato let the winger have too much time on the ball and allowed him to pick out a cross. Not great for the opening goal but improved as the game went on. 7
Reece James - Moved into midfield. He thought he was denied a clear penalty early on. Threw himself about and got involved in plenty of physical battles in the midfield. 6
Moises Caicedo - The Ecuadorian played an excellent through ball to Cole Palmer just over 20 minutes in and would have been frustrated his teammate couldn't make more of it. Apart from that, he did well. 6
Cole Palmer - A first half of moments but he couldn't get involved too much. Palmer started the second period much better, with a fine finish into the bottom corner after the ball fell to him inside of the Villa box. A great ball to Garnacho for Joao Pedro's hat-trick goal. 8
Enzo Fernandez - The Argentine played a fantastic diagonal pass to Gusto for Chelsea's equaliser. Superb vision and even better execution from Fernandez to find the right-back. Fernandez then played a cute pass to Joao Pedro for his second goal of the night. 8
Alejandro Garnacho - His first league start since the end of January. A good cross not long after the opening goal towards Joao Pedro and should have had an assist. He did get an assist, though, for Joao Pedro's hat-trick goal with Garnacho unselfishly squaring the ball to his teammate. Overall, Garnacho looked bright - probably the most dangerous he has looked in recent appearances. 8
Joao Pedro - The Brazilian has to do better with an early chance, but instead heads it too close to Martinez. Joao Pedro, though, does get himself on the score sheet in the first half with a fantastic run towards the back post to create what was an easy tap-in for him.
He then doubled his tally with a delicate chip over Martinez just before the half-time break. It was another tap-in for the Brazil international to complete his hat-trick. What a performance. 9
Romeo Lavia (on for Gusto 75') - Some more minutes in the tank. Did well in possession. 6
Marc Cucurella (on for Fernandez 79') - Great to see him back from injury. N/A
Tosin Adarabioyo (on for Fofana 79') - Came on for Fofana, who didn't look comfortable. N/A
Andrey Santos (on for Palmer 85') - Not enough time to make an impact. N/A
Liam Delap (on for Joao Pedro 85') - See above. N/A
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