Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey again had to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench for the home Barclays Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill kept faith with the side which drew against Manchester City, with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew preferred in attack.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti made three changes to the line-up which defeated Liverpool 2-0 a fortnight ago. Goalkeeper Petr Cech returned from suspension in place of Hilario, Florent Malouda replaced the injured Michael Ballack and Jose Bosingwa recovered from a hamstring setback to take over from Branislav Ivanovic.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Milner, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Delph, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Shorey, Beye, Gardner.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Malouda, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba. Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Joe Cole, Zhirkov, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti.
