Frank Lampard maintained Chelsea's six-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership - and it was a good day for the champions as Manchester United lost to Blackburn and Arsenal drew at West Ham.
Aston Villa had given the champions a scare at Stamford Bridge, Luke Moore firing the visitors ahead in the 44th minute with the first league goal against the champions this season. But Lampard quickly equalised with the first of his double strike in a 2-1 win, his free-kick curling around the visitors' wall and past Thomas Sorensen, and then earned the three points with a second-half penalty.
The Chelsea defence looked momentarily ordinary for Moore's goal, with John Terry and Paulo Ferreira colliding as they looked to clear Juan Pablo Angel's flick-on. The Villa wall then looked fragile as Lampard's low shot somehow got through for the leveller a minute later.
Lampard's winner arrived in the 75th minute, with Olof Mellberg fouling Didier Drogba to give away a penalty. Despite Sorensen's good record against spot-kicks, Lampard gave him little chance with a firm shot into the bottom right corner.
Manchester United were stunned by two Morten Gamst Pedersen goals at Old Trafford; the first a fluke, the second a stunning finish.
Pedersen gave Blackburn a shock half-time lead. The Norwegian midfielder seemed to be aiming for team-mates when he curled a free-kick towards goal from the right flank, but the left-footed delivery eluded players from both teams, zipping past Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner.
It took the introduction of substitute Wayne Rooney to give United the spark they were missing, and when his 20-yard shot was palmed out to Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Dutchman poked home his 67th-minute equaliser. But Pedersen was not finished and blasted Blackburn ahead 10 minutes from time, after Michael Gray's pass found him in space.
With United losing, Charlton strengthened their grip on second place after a fifth win in six matches. They took a four-point cushion in second after beating West Brom 2-1 and have a game in hand on Chelsea.
The Addicks edged in front of the home side after nine minutes when Jerome Thomas, racing in from the left, was tripped by Steve Watson in the penalty area and Danny Murphy converted the penalty. Murphy added his and Charlton's second after 31 minutes, tucking home from close range after excellent work on the right by Dennis Rommedahl. West Brom pulled one back through recent signing Curtis Davies but could not find an equaliser.
England striker Michael Owen was on target for a second successive weekend as Newcastle beat Manchester City 1-0 at St James' Park. The England striker collected a neat Lee Bowyer pass and fired past David James in the 18th minute to give Newcastle their second win of the season.
Everton, experiencing a turgid start to their season, lost 1-0 at home to Wigan and have just three points from six games. Wigan, after a second-half Damien Francis winner, are on 10 points and looking full value for their place in the top half of the table.
The only game without a goal was at Upton Park where Arsenal could not break down Alan Pardew's Hammers.
Birmingham midfielder Neil Kilkenny was sent off on his Premiership debut as Djibril Cisse's penalty rescued a point for Liverpool, who drew 2-2 at St Andrews.
The former Arsenal trainee was given his marching orders after handling a goalbound header from Reds defender Jamie Carragher with six minutes remaining. Cisse sent Maik Taylor the wrong way from the spot to complete a dramatic spell of four goals in 17 minutes.
Luis Garcia gave Liverpool a 68th-minute lead but Stephen Warnock's own goal levelled the scores and substitute Walter Pandiani put Blues ahead 15 minutes from time.