Mason Mount has always had more critics than most. Especially for England. But for Chelsea, he once again proved why he is such an irreplaceable asset with a brace that gave the Blues a 2-0 win, and put Steven Gerrard under added pressure.
As James Maddison failed to deliver with Gareth Southgate watching on yesterday lunchtime, this time, the England manager will have been suitably impressed with his attacking midfielder, on his return to Villa Park.
The former centre-back spent six years here and will be well aware of the defensive troubles haunting the national side. One of the Qatar candidates, Tyrone Mings, had a nightmare for Mount’s opener, and looks like he has just waved goodbye to his World Cup hopes.
READ MORE:
-
Assassinations, Affairs & Alcohol: How Harchester United Won The FA Cup
-
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and the fastest hat-tricks scored in major competitions
As the ball looped in the air, he attempted to clear with a defensive header, under relatively little pressure. Instead, he misjudged it, and instead headed the ball into the path of Mount who sidefooted the ball home in the first five minutes.
For Gerrard, who was taunted throughout by the Chelsea fans, this was a nightmare start. The ground began to turn against their side as moans and groans spread around the stands, but the immediate response was incredibly positive for Gerrard’s side. It’s just a shame for him that his side were chasing the game, rather than attempting to lead it.
Leon Bailey hit the bar with a close range header after a John McGinn cross gave him a wonderful opportunity, before Kepa Arrizabalaga made a smart double save, the second again from McGinn. It’s been quite the renaissance under Graham Potter for the Spanish keeper, who has taken his game to the next level.
He looks as confident as he has ever been in a Chelsea shirt and pulled off one of his greatest saves to keep his side ahead. Danny Ings rose highest from an inch-perfect cross and from just six yards out, looked destined to score. But Arrizabalaga somehow got there to palm the ball away as Villa wasted another golden opportunity.
The first half was full of chances as Raheem Sterling hit the bar from the edge of the box, but it was another magic moment from Mount that would decide the match. In the second half, after Potter had reshaped his defence with two changes, Chelsea won a free-kick near the edge of the box.
Up stepped Mount to hit a devilish strike that moved away from Emi Martinez and into the net, even if the Villa keeper could have done better. Villa’s issues don’t appear to run that deep. Two key moments took this game away from Gerrard, but expectations are so high at this football club this season.
Villa have Fulham and Brentford to come over the next week. Two simpler fixtures on paper and two you feel they have to get a result out of if Gerrard is to hold onto his job. The boos at Villa Park spoke of the fans’ frustration. For his opposite number Potter, life at Chelsea has started superbly and his winning run continues. Today, he had two brilliant individual performances to thank, one at either end of the pitch.
But one other manager will have learnt a thing or two from this match. Southgate has been proved right time and time again when it comes to Mason Mount. Now the England man has become an irrefutable shining light for his club.
