Romelu Lukaku’s late arrival powers Chelsea to victory over Aston Villa

By the end of the destruction, Aston Villa could just count themselves lucky that Thomas Tuchel did not deem Romelu Lukaku ready to play the entire match. The Chelsea manager said it would have been impossible for the forward to start but he still defied the advice of his medical department by introducing the striker at the interval, which Chelsea muddled through to after trailing to a Reece James own goal.

Sometimes needs must and Lukaku singlehandedly propelled Chelsea to a much-needed victory, heading in 11 minutes after entering and, in stoppage time, running half the pitch, brushing off desperate challenges from despairing defenders before winning Chelsea a second penalty. Crucially, they still have Manchester City in their sights.

Lukaku made a mockery of the Villa defence from the moment he arrived. He provided a welcome focal point after a half in which Christian Pulisic struggled as a No 9. Villa did not heed the early warning sign. Mason Mount sent in a teasing cross from the right, which almost shaved the forehead of the lurking Lukaku, but then Chelsea activated a different line of attack.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, out on the left flank, cut on to his right foot and curled an inviting cross into the box. Lukaku was unperturbed by Tyrone Mings’ feeble attempt to make life difficult and glanced a header into the far corner. Tuchel calmly clenched his fist and Lukaku, who has struggled with injury and illness this season, wheeled away to celebrate his first league goal since September.

Chelsea’s third goal came from the penalty spot via Jorginho but it stemmed from Lukaku embarking on an irresistible run from halfway. Hudson-Odoi released the striker and he proceeded to shrug off Matt Targett, who had two nibbles before crashing on to the turf on all fours, before breezing past Ezri Konsa, who resorted to hauling him down in the box. Jorginho, for the second time, effortlessly dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

“Romelu will be a key player,” Tuchel said. “Last time he started for us was in October, not because of quality or we have any doubts we are better without him. He is unlucky to get injured. When he was struggling to come back in the schedule, he caught Covid. It [the 45 minutes] was more than the fitness and medical department recommended for him but we thought we could take the risk and be more offensive. I’m happy it went well.”

Tuchel also said it was a risk to allow Hudson-Odoi to complete the match, while N’Golo Kanté was withdrawn with a recurrence of a knee problem and Thiago Silva was forced off with a hamstring injury. This was a vital victory but the problems continue to stack up for Chelsea, who host Brighton on Wednesday. Tuchel said: “We had a bit of a rough start, we were not sharp enough. We tried to get away with some skilful play but I felt there was some sharpness missing. We still did not allow too much. We went behind with an own goal – a very unlucky own goal – but the reaction was good. I was super happy.”

For Villa, their last game of the calendar year – Tuesday’s match at Leeds was postponed hours before kick-off here – spiralled from their grasp but the only defeats under Steven Gerrard have come against the top three teams in the division. Gerrard was absent here after testing positive for coronavirus but Villa began with an intensity that has been commonplace since he took charge, Ollie Watkins haring forward at every opportunity. Villa deservedly took the lead approaching the half-hour, albeit via a player in luminous yellow. Targett sent in a flat, first-time cross from the left, James glanced the ball on and it whistled over the unsuspecting Edouard Mendy, who no doubt had flashbacks to West Ham’s winner earlier this month.

Chelsea were disjointed and unconvincing, but Cash dangled a lifeline four minutes after Villa took the lead. He was caught on the wrong side of Hudson-Odoi and crudely clipped at his heels. Cash knew he had no grounds for complaint and Jorginho nonchalantly sent Emiliano Martínez the wrong way from the spot. Villa fashioned a couple more openings before the interval – Danny Ings dallied after latching on to a cute outside-of-the-boot pass by Ollie Watkins, moments after Trevoh Chalobah denied the striker a clean shot at goal – but they were overpowered following Lukaku’s half-time introductionafter half-time.

Villa were led by Gerrard’s assistants, Gary McAllister and Michael Beale. “I thought we started the game very well,” McAllister said. “I’ve been speaking to him [Gerrard] ever since he tested positive. He is obviously very frustrated; Boxing Day fixture against the European champions at Villa Park, in front of a full house and the television cameras. We were in constant touch.”