Zat's the way to do it

A week when Chelsea could, and perhaps should, have bought Ronaldinho.

A week that started with a sense of excitement but, judging by Roman Abramovich's mood as he stormed out of the Villa Park directors' box last night, ended with a deep sense of disappointment.

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If ever a game demonstrated the value of wingers who provide width and flair, this was it. If ever Abramovich has reflected on a business meeting with some regret, it would have been the one he had with Ronaldinho's brother last week.

How Chelsea could have used a player of Ronaldinho's ability against Aston Villa. How Abramovich must wish those talks had concluded with the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge.

How he would have cursed at the news of Ronaldinho's two goals for Barcelona last night.

Chelsea could also have used Frank Lampard here yesterday, his absence with injury a major reason why they failed even to threaten Villa's goal after Knight opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

They did not manage a single effort on target after that, conceding a second two minutes from the end. But Abramovich did not appear prepared to accept any excuses.

He wants entertainment but again he was treated to a fairly dire display. The same, of course, could not be said of the side Martin O'Neill guided to what amounted to the most significant victory of his Villa tenure.

They were terrific, using the pace and poise of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor to attack on the flanks and the sheer physical presence of Knight to land the first blow.

For Knight, it has indeed been a funny old week. From the own goal he scored here as a Fulham player the previous weekend to the events that very nearly ruined his first day at his new club.

The armed police officers who carried out the drugs raid on Knight's family home early on Wednesday morning certainly have a claim to fame after this. Who did they arrest and then release on bail without charge?

The bloke who traded handcuffs for a winning header against Chelsea and did so by rising above Didier Drogba and Mikel John Obi to meet Gareth Barry's corner.

Villa's second was more impressive and the product of wide rather than remarkably tall men — Young leaving Juliano Belletti in his wake then unleashing a shot that was guided in by the outstretched leg of Agbonlahor.

It was all too much for Chelsea's Russian owner, the sight of his side conceding a second convincing him it was time to go. Well, time to nip down to the dressing room to see his beaten boys anyway.

Contrary to what Jose Mourinho dared argue afterwards, they were well beaten. They might have deserved a first-half penalty for Martin Laursen's foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips.

If Mark Clattenburg and his bosses on the Match Officials Board look at it again and conclude it was a penalty perhaps they will call him and 'offer an apology'.

But they were conquered by a team who attack the way Chelsea used to attack when they had Arjen Robben on one wing and Damien Duff on the other.

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Even when Mourinho sent on his second-half substitutes they had no effect. Claudio Pizarro, Joe Cole and Saloman Kalou were all unleashed but Villa soaked up the pressure with ease.

Nigel Reo-Coker was a constant presence, providing protection to his back four with a combative performance.

Mourinho would have been disappointed with his midfield. Claude Makelele seemed to sit far too deep and Michael Essien failed to fill the void left by Lampard. Mikel was also poor.

Most impressive, however, was Young, marking his call-up to Steve McClaren's squad with a display that suggested it will not be long before he is pushing for a place on England's left.

It was his cross which Agbonlahor volleyed to test Petr Cech at the start and his shot which led to Barry's crucial corner.

Chelsea offered little in response and even less when Mourinho tried to reshuffle, which must have been worrying for McClaren given that Wright-Phillips was replaced with the equally ineffective Cole.

Painfully aware that the chance to return to the top of the Premier League was slipping from his grasp, Mourinho abandoned all caution in the end and left two at the back.

Young needed no more invitation than that, exploiting the vast space behind Belletti with one neat touch and a surging run before driving the ball across the face of the six-yard box and into the path of Agbonlahor.

For O'Neill, perhaps here was revenge for the 2003 UEFA Cup Final defeat when he was in charge at Celtic and Mourinho at Porto.

Revenge, in the Ulsterman's opinion, for the diving and dishonesty.

Didier Drogba was guilty of such histrionics here, even if it looked like a genuine knee injury that forced him to limp off at the end.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson 6; Mellberg 6, Knight 7, Laursen 8, Bouma 5; Agbonlahor 7, Reo-Coker 7, Barry 7, Young 7; Carew 6 (Petrov 79min, 5) Moore 6. Booked: Agbonlahor, Carew, Reo-Coker.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Belletti 5, Alex 6, Terry 6, Cole 5; Makelele 6 (Kalou 62, 5) Mikel 5, (Pizarro 53, 5) Essien 6; Malouda 5, Drogba 7, Wright-Phillips 6. (Cole 63, 5).

Man of the match: Martin Laursen.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.