It is often said in football that in order to be successful, you have to win your home games. Winger Florent Malouda agrees with the theory, and is determined to avoid a third consecutive league game at Stamford Bridge without victory.

Draws in an intense London derby against Tottenham and current champions Manchester United are by no means poor results, and helped extend our Premier League unbeaten run in SW6 to 85 league matches, yet Malouda insists three points must be the priority against Martin O' Neill's men.

'We know we are winning well away, but we have drawn twice now at home so we need to get back with three points,' he said.

Indeed we have not triumphed over Villa in the bread and butter of league football since the Ulsterman took charge in August 2006, drawing three times and losing once, so now would be the perfect time to change that statistic, and earn the win that would more than likely keep us atop the table.

Villa have started well themselves, and are sitting third just a point behind the Blues and Liverpool.

Their quick, attacking style is likely to offer a contrast to the majority of sides who visit the Bridge looking to take away a point.

'Yes, they may try to attack, we are not sure, but we will have to find the solutions to win the game at home for us, for the fans and everybody, because it's really important for the title race, winning our home games,' Malouda said. 'To be champions we have to win more games at home.'

It is a simple message from the Frenchman, and he happily admits that despite the aesthetically pleasing style of football played so far under Luiz Felipe Scolari, the only important thing is three points, and figuring a way to achieve that goal, which proves all the more difficult when sides 'park the bus' in front of their goal.

'It is hard because it is difficult to find the space, against teams like that you have to play quick and find the solutions to be in position to score,' Malouda explained.

'Sometimes you can win these games on set plays, you have to try everything to score, and as I said, it's really important.'

By Andy Jones