Premier League - Mourinho, Ramires and Willian off as Villa shock Chelsea

Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian (3rd L) is shown a red card by referee Chris Foy during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea (AFP)

Premier League, Villa Park - Aston Villa 1 (Delph 82’) Chelsea 0

Jose Mourinho and two of his players were sent off as Fabian Delph 's goal gave Aston Villa a 1-0 win to land a blow to Chelsea's title hopes. With Chelsea down to 10 men after Willian's dismissal, Delph cutely backheeled past Petr Cech. The Blues ended up with nine men as Ramires was dismissed, with boss Mourinho also sent to the stands.

There was little of note in the first half, with the best chances falling to Chelsea's Willian and Oscar, both of whom shot wide, while for Villa Christian Benteke acrobatically volleyed just wide from the edge of the box. Nemanja Matic also had a goal disallowed for handball.

The second half was similarly muted, and both teams started slowly. Chelsea had a chance on 61 minutes, receiving the ball from a short corner but shooting limply at goal. Five minutes later, Benteke shot a fraction wide from just outside the box.

Willian only had himself to blame, receiving a second yellow card for a cynical challenge to stop a Delph run. With 10 minutes to go, Ron Vlaar headed a corner just wide of goal. A minute later, Delph struck the winner with a brilliant flick to the back post.

The match ended as farce as Ramires saw red for a late stamp on Karim El-Ahmadi, and then Mourinho was sent to the stands for arguing with the ref on the pitch. Liverpool and City are closing in.

TALKING POINT

Did Jose Mourinho get sent off deliberately? It looked like a conscious decision to walk onto the pitch to argue with the referee following Ramires’ sending off. It’s not unusual for Mourinho to take the heat off his players whenever possible. With two sending offs and a poor performance, that was needed more than ever.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Fabian Delph (Aston Villa): The scorer of the winner, it was Delph who also caused Willian’s sending off with a pacy run towards goal. He also hit the bar even later in the game, and has finally come good on his early promise.

PLAYER RATINGS

Aston Villa: Guzan 6, Bacuna 6, Vlaar 6, Baker 6, Bennett 6, Westwood 6, Delph 7, El Ahmadi 6, Weimann 6, Benteke 6, Agbonlahor 5. Subs: Clark 5, Albrighton 6.

Chelsea: Cech 6, Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6, Ramires 5, Matic 6, Willian 5, Oscar 6, Hazard 6, Torres 5. Subs: Schuerrle 5, Ba 6.