Chelsea's fine start to the season gathered further pace after a routine victory over Aston Villa.

Victory for Chelsea, which takes them back to within a point of leaders Arsenal, was accomplished with a minimum of fuss -  a rare event at Stamford Bridge this season.

Since the arrival of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea fans have been subjected to a rollercoaster ride at home but this time around victory was achieved in clinical style thanks to the predatory skills of Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink.

Hasselbaink struck just seconds before the half time whistle to give his side a win they just about deserved after an entertaining battle.

For all of Chelsea's flair, Villa also made a significant contribution and should enjoy a more succesfull season based on this performance.

After a patient and probing opening, Chelsea were first to threaten when Damien Duff outwitted Villa's emergency centre-back Dion Dublin. The Irish winger crossed to Mutu, whose acrobatic overhead volley was blocked.

Romanian forward Mutu made a hash of a much easier opportunity after nine minutes. The 15.8million man was clean through but completely miscontrolled Frank Lampard's lofted pass - and Dublin cleared.

O'Leary was furious with his defence, frequently racing to the touchline to scream at his backline and his mood soured yet further when Duff was allowed the time and space to send a drive whistling just wide of Thomas Sorensen's post.

Villa began to impose themselves on the game as the half wore on but they were deflated when Chelsea through Hasselbaink, who slotted into the empty net after Sorensen had spilled Frank Lampard's shot.

Villa had two good chances to restore parity early in the second half when Gareth Barry's close-range shot was charged down and Duff, clean-through, side-footed towards the bottom corner, only for Sorensen to push the ball round his post.

Lampard then played a careless pass into no-man's land behind his own backline which was seized on by Angel but the Colombian, one-on-one with Cudicini, shot wide.

Damian Duff had a fine chance to wrap up the win in the dying minutes but he scuffed his shot from six yards out with just Sorensen to beat. 

Man of the Match: Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink - The predatory Dutchman gave the Villa defenders a headache all afternoon and capped a fine performance with the all-important winning goal.

Teams

Chelsea Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Desailly, Bridge, Veron (Cole 79), Lampard, Petit (Makelele 73), Duff, Mutu (Gronkjaer 63), Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: Crespo, Ambrosio.

Goals: Hasselbaink 43.

Aston Villa Sorensen, Delaney, Alpay, Dublin, Samuel, Hendrie, McCann, Barry, De la Cruz, Whittingham (Vassell 53), Angel.

Subs Not Used: Hitzlsperger, Allback, Ridgewell, Postma.

Booked: Delaney, Samuel.

Attendance: 41,182

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).