Chelsea send Aston Villa closer to second division football
Aston Villa's top flight status hangs by a thread following a 4-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday. Eric Black's first game in charge since the sacking of Remi Garde could not prevent Villa's 22nd loss in 32 games.Ā
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Ruben Loftus Cheek started the latest carnage scoring his first Premier league goal for the club which has hothoused him since the age of eight. The 20-year-old academy graduate hit the mark in the 26th minute during his 11th Premier League game.
The visitors went into the pause in control at 2-0 courtesy of Alexandre Patoās strike from the penalty spot. The Brazilian slotted home on his Premier League debut.
The second half was one-way traffic as Pedro Rodriguez bagged a brace. Villaās survival is technically possible but they are 15 points behind 17th placed Norwich who scored in second- half stoppage time to beat fellow strugglers Newcastle United 3-2.
Martin Olssonās goal provoked huge rejoicing at Carrow Road. The victory ā their second on the trot in the Premier League ā means they are four points above the drop zone. However 18th placed Sunderland, who drew 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion, have played one game less. Newcastle remain in 19th position.
At the other end of the table, Arsenal maintained their slight hopes of the title with a 4-0 annihilation of Watford. Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring after four minutes and Alex Iwobi struck his second goal in as many games just before the pause.
Any thoughts of a Watford fightback were destroyed shortly after the restart when Hector Bellerinās deflected shot made it 3-0. England international Theo Walcott added the gloss in stoppage time.
Manchester City also hit four to beat Bournemouth and stay fourth, three points ahead of West Ham United who drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace.
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