• CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga: 8 - Made some big stops in the first half to deny Archer twice. He was unable to stop the equaliser and he made some big stops in the shootout to win the tie. Getty Images
    CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga: 8 - Made some big stops in the first half to deny Archer twice. He was unable to stop the equaliser and he made some big stops in the shootout to win the tie. Getty Images
  • Reece James: 8 - A dominant performance, winning the majority of his duels, looking comfortable on the ball and making a goal line block to deny the visitors. He got an assist by putting a cross on a plate for Werner to head home in the second half and scored a thumping winning penalty. Getty Images
    Reece James: 8 - A dominant performance, winning the majority of his duels, looking comfortable on the ball and making a goal line block to deny the visitors. He got an assist by putting a cross on a plate for Werner to head home in the second half and scored a thumping winning penalty. Getty Images
  • Trevoh Chalobah: 7 - Put in a calming performance for his side, playing out well with the ball and doing his job well defensively when called upon. AFP
    Trevoh Chalobah: 7 - Put in a calming performance for his side, playing out well with the ball and doing his job well defensively when called upon. AFP
  • Malang Sarr: 5 - Struggled at times on his Chelsea debut, picking up an early booking that didn’t help his cause and getting caught out by the Aston Villa attackers in areas. AP
    Malang Sarr: 5 - Struggled at times on his Chelsea debut, picking up an early booking that didn’t help his cause and getting caught out by the Aston Villa attackers in areas. AP
  • Callum Hudson-Odoi: 7 - The wing-back was a danger throughout, working well with James marauding on the right and working opportunities well. Probably deserved a goal or assist. AFP
    Callum Hudson-Odoi: 7 - The wing-back was a danger throughout, working well with James marauding on the right and working opportunities well. Probably deserved a goal or assist. AFP
  • N’Golo Kante: 6 - Starting as Chelsea captain, Kante put in a usual energetic performance, covering a lot of ground and looking neat in possession without creating much going forward. Reuters
    N’Golo Kante: 6 - Starting as Chelsea captain, Kante put in a usual energetic performance, covering a lot of ground and looking neat in possession without creating much going forward. Reuters
  • Saul Niguez: 4 - Struggled against Aston Villa in the league and struggled again in the cup match. He often misplaced passes that he shouldn’t have and gave away some unnecessary fouls. Getty Images
    Saul Niguez: 4 - Struggled against Aston Villa in the league and struggled again in the cup match. He often misplaced passes that he shouldn’t have and gave away some unnecessary fouls. Getty Images
  • Ben Chilwell: 6 - The England full-back started well but drifted as the game went on after initially having the better of Cash on the right. AFP
    Ben Chilwell: 6 - The England full-back started well but drifted as the game went on after initially having the better of Cash on the right. AFP
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6 - The midfielder put in a good display, driving well on the ball and winning the majority of his battles in the middle of the park. AFP
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6 - The midfielder put in a good display, driving well on the ball and winning the majority of his battles in the middle of the park. AFP
  • Hakim Ziyech: 5 - Looked to get himself involved and forced the hand of Steer on many occasions with shots from distance but wasn’t able to get a goal for himself. AFP
    Hakim Ziyech: 5 - Looked to get himself involved and forced the hand of Steer on many occasions with shots from distance but wasn’t able to get a goal for himself. AFP
  • Timo Werner: 7 - The forward struggled at times to get the service, but made it count when he got on the end of a James cross to open the scoring. He looked to get himself involved often, running channels and dropping deep when required. Reuters
    Timo Werner: 7 - The forward struggled at times to get the service, but made it count when he got on the end of a James cross to open the scoring. He looked to get himself involved often, running channels and dropping deep when required. Reuters
  • Mason Mount (46’): 6 - Taking the captain’s armband, Mount came on to add spark for Tuchel’s side. Whilst he never got on the scoresheet, he came close with an effort that deflected just wide. Getty Images
    Mason Mount (46’): 6 - Taking the captain’s armband, Mount came on to add spark for Tuchel’s side. Whilst he never got on the scoresheet, he came close with an effort that deflected just wide. Getty Images
  • Romelu Lukaku (76’): N/R - Came on in search of a winner and while he caused problems as a target man, he wasn’t able to stop the game drifting towards penalties. PA
    Romelu Lukaku (76’): N/R - Came on in search of a winner and while he caused problems as a target man, he wasn’t able to stop the game drifting towards penalties. PA
  • Ross Barkley (76’): N/R - Came on to change the dynamic of the game and other than a shot from distance, wasn’t able to provide much. Getty Images
    Ross Barkley (76’): N/R - Came on to change the dynamic of the game and other than a shot from distance, wasn’t able to provide much. Getty Images
  • ASTON VILLA PLAYER RATINGS: Jed Steer: 6 - The Villa shot stopper was kept busy, mainly by Ziyech, with saving shots from distance and did so throughout. He was unable to do much to deny Werner, who had a header from a couple yards out. AFP
    ASTON VILLA PLAYER RATINGS: Jed Steer: 6 - The Villa shot stopper was kept busy, mainly by Ziyech, with saving shots from distance and did so throughout. He was unable to do much to deny Werner, who had a header from a couple yards out. AFP
  • Ashley Young: 5 - The visitor’s captain had a tough time on his left, bombarded with Hudson-Odoi and James on the flank. He also missed one of the decisive penalties in the match. AP
    Ashley Young: 5 - The visitor’s captain had a tough time on his left, bombarded with Hudson-Odoi and James on the flank. He also missed one of the decisive penalties in the match. AP
  • Kortney Hause: 6 - Had a neat game and called into action on occasion but rarely having to deny any goalmouth action. He looked comfortable on the ball and took risks in the right areas to help play out. Reuters
    Kortney Hause: 6 - Had a neat game and called into action on occasion but rarely having to deny any goalmouth action. He looked comfortable on the ball and took risks in the right areas to help play out. Reuters
  • Axel Tuanzebe: 6 - Much like his centre-back partner, had some defensive action to be called to but rarely having to throw himself in front of shots. He also looked comfortable in possession and provided a base to pass from at the back. AP
    Axel Tuanzebe: 6 - Much like his centre-back partner, had some defensive action to be called to but rarely having to throw himself in front of shots. He also looked comfortable in possession and provided a base to pass from at the back. AP
  • Matty Cash: 7 - The right-back had a great tussle with Chilwell on his flank and eventually came out on top defensively. On the attack, he put in a fantastic deep cross for Archer to score from. Getty Images
    Matty Cash: 7 - The right-back had a great tussle with Chilwell on his flank and eventually came out on top defensively. On the attack, he put in a fantastic deep cross for Archer to score from. Getty Images
  • Morgan Sanson: 7 - It was an unfortunately short-lived return to first-team action for Sanson, who made his first appearance since his injury against Fulham in April. He looked bright, teeing Archer up for a golden opportunity that was put over. He received a big blow in the first half though, getting subbed before half-time with an injury. AFP
    Morgan Sanson: 7 - It was an unfortunately short-lived return to first-team action for Sanson, who made his first appearance since his injury against Fulham in April. He looked bright, teeing Archer up for a golden opportunity that was put over. He received a big blow in the first half though, getting subbed before half-time with an injury. AFP
  • Marvelous Nakamba: 6 - The 27-year-old was in the thick of the action, finding himself involved in many duels in the midfield. He passed well when required but his role meant that he created little going forward. AFP
    Marvelous Nakamba: 6 - The 27-year-old was in the thick of the action, finding himself involved in many duels in the midfield. He passed well when required but his role meant that he created little going forward. AFP
  • Anwar El-Ghazi: 6 - Worked some threatening chances in the game but was never able to stamp his authority on it with a goal or an assist. Getty Images
    Anwar El-Ghazi: 6 - Worked some threatening chances in the game but was never able to stamp his authority on it with a goal or an assist. Getty Images
  • Emiliano Buendia: 5 - The playmaker had little impact for his side, struggling to find his creative spark and putting in poor set-pieces on the night. PA
    Emiliano Buendia: 5 - The playmaker had little impact for his side, struggling to find his creative spark and putting in poor set-pieces on the night. PA
  • Bertrand Traore: 7 - The winger threatened the Blues backline when he got on the ball and ran at them, drawing fouls in dangerous areas too. Reuters
    Bertrand Traore: 7 - The winger threatened the Blues backline when he got on the ball and ran at them, drawing fouls in dangerous areas too. Reuters
  • Cameron Archer: 7 - The youngster will be pleased with how dangerous he looked up front for Villa and may have thought he missed his chance to score when he failed to score two one-on-ones. However, his header to equalise was a fantastic effort that no goalkeeper could stop. PA
    Cameron Archer: 7 - The youngster will be pleased with how dangerous he looked up front for Villa and may have thought he missed his chance to score when he failed to score two one-on-ones. However, his header to equalise was a fantastic effort that no goalkeeper could stop. PA
  • SUBS: Carney Chukwuemeka (42’): 6 - The 17-year-old put in a good showing, winning most of his battles in the midfield but rarely getting a chance on the ball going forward. PA
    SUBS: Carney Chukwuemeka (42’): 6 - The 17-year-old put in a good showing, winning most of his battles in the midfield but rarely getting a chance on the ball going forward. PA
  • Jaden Philogene-Bidace (64’): 7 - The young substitute looked a threat going forward and picked up where Traore left off. He drove at the Chelsea backline and caused them some issues. Getty Images
    Jaden Philogene-Bidace (64’): 7 - The young substitute looked a threat going forward and picked up where Traore left off. He drove at the Chelsea backline and caused them some issues. Getty Images
  • Ezri Konsa (77’): N/R - Came on to shore up the backline and switch to a back five, helping them take it to penalties. Getty Images
    Ezri Konsa (77’): N/R - Came on to shore up the backline and switch to a back five, helping them take it to penalties. Getty Images

Sport

Football

Chelsea v Aston Villa player ratings: James 8, Werner 7; Archer 7, Buendia 5

Blues advance to League Cup fourth round via a penalty shootout after normal time ended 1-1

Luke Thrower

September 23, 2021

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Timo Werner scored his first goal of the season as a much-changed Chelsea side crept into the fourth round of the League Cup by beating Aston Villa 4-3 on penalties after the Stamford Bridge clash ended 1-1 on Wednesday.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel made 10 changes to his starting lineup and German striker Werner took his opportunity to give his side the lead in the 54th minute as he headed a Reece James cross past Villa keeper Jed Steer.

Werner should have made it 2-0 almost immediately but shot wide and Villa responded with youngster Cameron Archer's superb header from a Matty Cash cross sending the tie to penalties.

Chelsea, who threw on Romelu Lukaku late on, forged ahead in the shootout as Villa's Marvelous Nakamba and Ashley Young both failed to score but Ben Chilwell struck the crossbar when he could have sealed it for the hosts.

Reece James made no mistake though as Chelsea set up a fourth-round home clash with Southampton.

In the photo gallery above, Luke Thrower has provided his player ratings from Stamford Bridge.

Updated: September 23, 2021, 6:22 AM
Aston Villa