A league win over the claret and blue-shirted West Midlanders is well overdue. Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton weigh-up Sunday's meeting.

TALKING POINTS
Despite the sudden influx of players into Dr Bryan English's A&E ward, Chelsea are currently very well placed in every competition: top of the league, top of the Champions League, and with lower league opposition to overcome in the Carling Cup; unbeaten in all competitions.

Villa are away specialists this season, however, and will hope to threaten depleted Chelsea's 85-game unbeaten league run at the Bridge.

After the 0-0 draw in Cluj-Napoca, Luiz Felipe Scolari rued the possible loss of more key players, taking the total in doubt for Sunday up to nine. Last winter, under similar conditions, adversity brought the best out of the likes of the previously unsung Alex. Who will make their mark in the present situation?

The stalemate against CFR Cluj was the first match in which a Chelsea side under Scolari has failed to score. It was also our first Champions League game without a goal since Olympiacos back in February.  

KEY STAT Aston Villa are the only club to have started all six Barclays Premier League with the same starting eleven.

Sunday three o'clock games are all the rage nowadays. Last season, when Aston Villa hosted West Ham on Saturday October 6 at 3pm, it was the only Premier League game to kick-off at that 'traditional' time: a first. With TV coverage and European competitions, Chelsea's only Saturday three o'clock start so far was last week's great win at Stoke.

No one wins the league in September, but it's said a team might lose it. Like Chelsea, Liverpool are undefeated so far this season. Manchester United have lost once, but Arsenal twice, following their capitulation last weekend at home to the Tigers ('Theyyy're grrreat!').

However, in the 2007/8 season, United actually lost five times, Liverpool four, Chelsea and Arsenal three. The difference was in the number of draws. United dropped two points on six occasions, but the other three teams' draws all ran into double figures. Chelsea's ten was costly.

Two of those converted to wins, even with one other becoming a defeat, would have been sufficient to overcome United in the title race.

Unlike last season, of course, Chelsea have the league's best goal difference: plus nine. We haven't heard from the media - as we did, endlessly, last season - that it is 'worth an extra point'. Surely it's only a matter of time.

Chelsea are the only side from last season's top four playing at home this weekend. Liverpool face a tough trip to up-and-down billionaires Manchester City; their last two visits have been 0-0 draws. Tiger-mauled Arsenal have an excellent record at the Stadium of Light, with eight goals coming in three straight wins. Manchester Utd could go three points behind Chelsea with a win at Ewood, but they have won only once in eight previous league visits.

The weekend's Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Sunderland v Arsenal 3pm
WBA v Fulham 3pm
Wigan v Middlesbrough 3pm
Blackburn v Man Utd 5.30pm Setanta
Sunday
West Ham v Bolton 1.30pm Sky
Chelsea v Aston Villa 3pm
Man City v Liverpool 3pm
Portsmouth v Stoke 3pm
Tottenham v Hull 3pm
Everton v Newcastle 4pm Sky

Barclays Premier League table

Top		P	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	6	9	14
2	Liverpool	6	5	14
3	Aston Villa	6	4	13
4	Arsenal	6	8	12
5	West Ham	6	3	12
6	Hull	6	-2	11

TACTICAL BRIEF
Chelsea tend to have more shots on goal in each game than Villa, more on target, and greater possession of the ball. Yet Martin O'Neill has been able to call on the same team in every Premier League game so far and at the moment is reaping the benefits of consistency.

They have great cohesion throughout the team, link well and know each other's strengths and weaknesses. One element crucial to success in the Premier League is speed. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Nicky Shorey and sub James Milner have it abundance, even if it is not one Gareth Barry's greatest assets.

Centre-forward Agbonlahor has formed a powerful partnership with target man Jon Carew upfront, and has scored four league goals, including an impressive hat-trick against pre-Abu Dhabi Manchester City.

In the past O'Neill has asked his second striker to drop deep and harass Chelsea's holding midfielder, likely to be Mikel on Sunday.

Winger Young (pictured above) has been one of the most impressive players in the league this season. A right-footer playing down the left, and habitually cutting inside towards goal, he is fast and powerful, with a handy shot from distance. He scored the equaliser at home to Sunderland last weekend. It will be interesting to see how he and former Reading left-back Shorey cope with the attack-minded José Bosingwa.

Villa's central midfield is hard-working and positive, with Barry firming up his England squad position and Stiliyan Petrov finally winning over sceptical Villa fans. At the back O'Neill's reconstructed defence has proved pretty secure, though summer signing Brad Friedel has only kept one league clean sheet, against Liverpool. Captain Martin Laursen has been outstanding so far.

Although Villa's European match was a day later than Chelsea's they played at home and were able to rest some players ahead of this meeting. Chelsea's trip to Transylvania brought so many injuries to his squad that Scolari's options are quite limited.

WE HAVE HISTORY
Although Villa have not won here for six years, they have been a thorn in Chelsea's side the last two seasons and are unbeaten against us in the Premier League for five games.

They have played very well here. Agbonlahor equalised Drogba's early opener in 2006, and Barry took advantage of Chelsea's loss of initiative to grab a draw with a last-gasp penalty in a see-saw 4-4. Avram Grant's team trailed 0-2, and led 3-2 and 4-3 in that gut-wrenching game.

In fact the Blues' last win in this fixture was in September 2005 at the Bridge. Luke Moore opened the scoring (44 mins) to become the first player to score against Mourinho's met that season. Frank Lampard equalised two minutes later and scored the 75th minute winner with a penalty (pictured below).

Martin O'Neill has yet to suffer defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League since he became Aston Villa's manager in August 2006, although the Blues did beat Villa 4-0 in the League Cup later the same year. Villa never really got going in that match, despite the free travel offered by their new owner. Lampard was again Chelsea's opening scorer, and two late goals gave the victory a gloss it didn't really deserve.

Villa's last victory at Stamford Bridge was the last game of season 2001/2, a week after our FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal. Aston Villa won 3-1. Peter Crouch, Darius Vassell and Dion Dublin scored their goals. Eidur Gudjohnsen scored a penalty in reply.

Steve Sidwell moved from Stamford Bridge to Villa Park in the summer having made 25 appearances for the Blues in 2007/8.

In 32 games between the clubs since the Premier League started Chelsea have won 13, Villa have won nine and there have been 10 draws, Chelsea goals 37, Villa goals 31.

 Our Premier League record against the Villans at Stamford Bridge in full is as follows:
1992/93 Villa won 1-0
1993/94 Drew 1-1
1994/95 Chelsea won 1-0
1995/96 Villa won 2-1
1996/97 Drew 1-1
1997/98 Villa won 1-0
1998/99 Chelsea won 2-1
1999/00 Chelsea won 1-0
2000/01 Chelsea won 1-0
2001/02 Villa won 3-1
2002/03 Chelsea won 2-0
2003/04 Chelsea won 1-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 2-1
2006/07 Drew 1-1
2007/08 Drew 4-4

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING MATCH
Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4
Premier League, Wednesday December 26th 2007 at Stamford Bridge
Referee Phil Dowd
Crowd 41,686

Chelsea Manager Avram Grant. Cech     Ferreira                  Alex            Carvalho                 A Cole       Essien              Lampard (c)      J Cole                 Pizarro                        Kalou Shevchenko  Substitutes Ballack for Lampard (25), Wright-Phillips for Shevchenko (82), Mikel for Pizarro (84)  Sent off Carvalho (79), A Cole (90+1) Booked Essien, Ballack Scorers Shevchenko 45+4 pen, 49, Alex 65, Ballack 87   Maloney            Carew  A Young          Barry (c)          Reo-Coker             Agbonlahor  Bouma            Laursen              Knight              Mellberg  Carson Manager Martin O'Neill  Aston Villa  Substitutes Davies for Maloney (h/t), Moore for Carew (77) Harewood for Bouma (89)  Sent off Knight (45+2) Booked Reo-Coker, Harewood  Scorers Maloney 13, 43, Laursen 71, Barry 90+2 pen

This was the last occasion Chelsea fell two goals behind in a match.

 Other match last season
2 Sep 2007 Premier League (Villa Park)
Aston Villa..........2 Chelsea..........0
Knight 47
Agbonlahor 88        Att: 37,714

Chelsea v Aston Villa in all competitions
Games played 135
Chelsea wins 49
Villa wins 54
Draws 32

Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 61
Chelsea wins 31
Villa wins 18
Draws 12

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
29/03/1921 Chelsea 5-1 Aston Villa
19/09/1931 Chelsea 3-6 Aston Villa

CHELSEA STATS
The Blues are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League of 27 matches (19 wins and eight draws) since the defeat at the Emirates in December - our only loss in 37. We remain the only top flight club yet to lose a league game in 2008.

Chelsea are on a 19-game undefeated run in all competitions (excluding penalty shoot-outs) since our last defeat in Turkey against Fenerbahçe on April 2nd.

Chelsea have not lost when scoring first in the Premier League since the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham in November 2006.

We have scored in each of the last 18 Premier League matches, since a goalless draw at home to Liverpool in February.

We are looking to extend our record unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge to 86 games since our last defeat against Arsenal on February 21st 2004.

The Blues are unbeaten in 105 consecutive domestic matches at Stamford Bridge (if penalty shoot-outs are excluded).

We are hoping to extend our club unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge in all competitions to 73 games since our last defeat on February 22nd 2006 when Barcelona beat a ten-man Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League. That has been our only home defeat in the last 131 games since February 2004.

Chelsea's previous six games

Sep 13	Man City A	W 3-1
Sep 16	Bordeaux H	W 4-0 Champions League
Sep 21	Man Utd H	D 1-1
Sep 24	Portsmouth A	W 4-0 League Cup
Sep 27	Stoke City A	W 2-0
Oct 1	CFR Cluj A	D 0-0 Champions League

 2008/09 Premier League scorers
Anelka 3, Deco 2, Lampard 2 (1 pen), Belletti 1, Bosingwa 1, Carvalho 1, J Cole 1, Kalou 1.

MILESTONES
If selected and fit, Joe Cole will make his 100th Premier League start in a blue shirt.

John Terry's next appearance will be his 364th and will move him equal 17th with 1955 League Championship winner Johnny Harris (pictured below) in the club's all time appearances list.

ASTON VILLA STATS
Villa have made their best start to the Premier League season in nine years.

They have won their last three away games (league and cup) and have only lost one in six away in the Premier League.

Won seven, drawn three and lost two of their last 12 in the Premier League.

Last season Villa had an incredible nine players that started at least 32 games in the Premier League campaign. That injury-free run has continued into this season.

Villa's away league record in 2007/8 was six wins, nine draws and four defeats. Their top Premier League scorers were John Carew 13 and Gabriel Agbonlahor 11.

Aston Villa's best season in the Premier League was runners-up in 1992/93 with 74 points, ten behind champions Man Utd and two above third placed Norwich. Their most recent major piece of silverware is the League Cup in 1996. They last won the league in 1980/81.

Steve Sidwell has yet to appear in the Premier League for the Villans since his move from Stamford Bridge in the summer. His only first team action came in the two Intertoto matches against Odense in July.

VILLA IN THE PREM
The Villans are one of seven clubs to have appeared in every season in the Premier League.

	Pts	Pos
1992/93	74	2nd
1993/94	57	10th
1994/95	48	18th
1995/96	63	4th
1996/97	61	5th
1997/98	57	7th
1998/99	55	6th
1999/00	58	6th
2000/01	54	8th
2001/02	50	8th
2002/03	45	16th
2003/04	56	6th
2004/05	47	10th
2005/06	42	16th
2006/07	50	11th
2007/08	60	6th

MOST RECENT PREMIER LEAGUE LINE-UP
Saturday September 27, Sunderland (home) W 2-1

Friedel L Young    Davies     Laursen (c)    Shorey  Reo-Coker       Petrov       Barry     A Young Agbonlahor          Carew  Substitutes Milner for Shorey (70), Cuellar for Carew (90) Scorers A Young 18, Carew 33

 
Thursday September 27, Litex (home) D 1-1 Uefa Cup

Friedel L Young           Knight         Cueller        Shorey Routledge        Salifou        Petrov         Milner      A Young             Harewood   Substitutes Osbourne for Young (85)  Scorer Harewood 27

Villa's previous six games

Sep 15	Tottenham A	W 2-1
Sep 18	Litex Lovech A	W 3-1 Uefa Cup
Sep 21	WBA A	W 2-1
Sep 24	QPR H	L 0-1 League Cup
Sep 27	Sunderland H	W 2-1
Oct 2	Litex Lovech H	D 1-1 Uefa Cup

 
2008/09 Premier League scorers
Carew 4, Agbonlahor 4, A Young 2, Laursen 1, Reo-Coker 1.

Villa's manager this decade
John Gregory 1998 to 2002
Graham Taylor 2002 to 2003
David O'Leary 2003 to 2006
Martin O'Neill Aug 2006 to date

NEW BOYS
Villa's summer transfers

In James Milner (Newcastle, £12m), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers, £7.8m), Steve Sidwell, Chelsea £5m), Brad Friedel (Blackburn, £2m), Luke Young (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Curtis Davies, West Brom, undisclosed), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA, undisclosed), Nicky Shorey (Reading, undisclosed). Out Luke Moore (West Brom, £3m), Olof Mellberg (Juventus, free), Thomas Sorensen (released, now Stoke), Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague, free), Shaun Maloney (Celtic, undisclosed).

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Chris Foy. Last season he officiated in three Chelsea wins (Hull in the Carling Cup, Derby and Manchester City) producing an aggregate of 12-1, but ruined the sequence with the disappointing 1-1 draw with Bolton on the last game of the season.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
There are no suspensions on either side.