Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa: Match Report

Costa continues hot start in win

Diego Costa continued his remarkable start to life in the Premier League as Jose Mourinho celebrated his 250th match as Chelsea boss with a 3-0 defeat of Aston Villa.

Oscar put the Blues in front after seven minutes before Costa, selected despite his troublesome hamstring limiting him to one game a week, headed in after 59 minutes.

It was the Brazil-born Spain striker's eighth goal in his first six Premier League games, a tally second only to Micky Quinn's 10 with Coventry 22 years ago.

The clinical streak seems, initially at least, to fully justify the B#32million Chelsea paid Atletico Madrid in the summer, although Costa also missed chances against a stubborn Villa.

A third Chelsea goal came from Costa's saved shot as Willian netted before the Spain striker was taken off in the hope he can recover in time to feature in Tuesday's Champions League Group G clash at Sporting Lisbon.

Villa began the day in third, three points behind leaders Chelsea, who reverted to 10 of the side which began last Sunday's draw at Manchester City.

Only three were retained following the midweek Capital One Cup defeat of Bolton in Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta and Oscar, who took the place of Ramires (groin) from the City starting side.

The Brazil playmaker broke the deadlock after Branislav Ivanovic freed Willian down the right.