Steve Sidwell scored against his old club as Aston Villa beat Chelsea 1-0 in a reserves match on Monday night.
The midfielder rose highest to head home from a Zoltan Stieber centre on the hour mark.
The victory helped extend Villa’s 100 per cent record although they struggled at first to get into their stride as Chelsea started very brightly.
Kevin MacDonald’s men created their first chance after ten minutes when Stieber crossed from the left but Hilario came out to collect. Sinclair fired just over the bar eight minutes later. Parish did brilliantly to save Sinclair’s drive on 25 after Sidwell miskicked in the box.
Three minutes later, Stieber broke down the left and fired in an impressive centre. Williams controlled the ball and his eventual drive was well saved by Hilario.
Stieber saw a 25-yard free-kick whistle tamely past the post after 40 minutes.
Villa broke down the left through Stieber again three minutes later and his cross was headed back across goal by Collins but the Chelsea rearguard managed to clear.
Tejera saw a 25-yard strike crash against the upright on the stroke of half time and in injury time, Collins had an effort from close range fly just wide.
The hosts made substitution at the start of the second half with Mellis coming on for Ferreira. Williams created a chance of his own two minutes after the restart but Hilario made a good save low down to deny the Villa striker.
Clark headed straight at the keeper three minutes later as he got on the end of a Bannan free-kick from the half way line. Williams headed just wide after 56 minutes from a Bannan centre.
Then Stieber, after great interplay, played in a wonderful cross from the left and Sidwell rose to head past Hilario into the bottom corner to give Villa the lead.
Parish did brilliantly to save at the feet of Kakuta on 67 while four minutes later Nouble replaced Tejero. Then Magnay was dismissed on 74 for two yellow cards after fouling Williams and kicking the ball away.
