The Football Association must be tempted to investigate whether David James is on the payroll at Stamford Bridge. In May the Aston Villa goalkeeper dropped a free-kick to hand Chelsea the FA Cup. Yesterday his embarrassing blunder gave Claudio Ranieri's side three points.
In striking a clearance at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink just before half-time he had offered the Dutch striker an open goal and decided the match in favour of a fitful Chelsea.
Neither James' otherwise impressive performance, nor a late foray forward for a corner, could undo the damage. A fine early save from Gus Poyet will soon be forgotten and his talent seems certain forever to be undermined by these flashes of incompetence.
Ranieri's side just about deserved to win, having created the better chances and struck the bar, but they gave a far from convincing performance.
After Hasselbaink had hit woodwork early in the second half they created almost nothing. And Gilles de Bilde, playing the last game of his three-month loan from Sheffield Wednesday to Villa, should have equalised.
It will help Chelsea in their desire to get back into Europe if they can start to replicate their success at home on their travels. It is seven wins and a draw at Stamford Bridge since Ranieri took over and still not a victory has been gained away.
In a glimpse of the future, Chelsea paraded their young Danish signing Jesper Gronkjaer before kick-off and fielded six outfield players aged 24 or under, half of them English. Dropped to the bench were Wise, Zola and De Goey.
One of those, Jon Harley, was involved in much of Chelsea's good early work as they created four chances inside 20 minutes. James was forced off his line to clear as Hasselbaink bore down on goal and then made his fine stop when Poyet headed a Harley cross goalwards.
But all that was to be undermined as half-time loomed. Booting a Steve Staunton back pass upfield seemed simple enough but James struck the ball straight at Hasselbaink's feet and, despite mishitting his shot, the striker squeezed a looping effort just over the line before Gareth Southgate could clear. For James, memories of the dropped free-kick which allowed Roberto di Matteo that Wembley winner may have flooded back.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Leboeuf, Terry, Melchiot, Harley (Wise 89), Poyet, Jokanovic, Morris, Dalla Bona, Gudjohnsen (Ferrer 87), Hasselbaink (Zola 79). Subs not used: de Goey, Lambourde. Goals: Hasselbaink 45.
Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Wright, Southgate, Staunton, Boateng, Merson, Stone, Taylor, Dublin (Vassell 76), De Bilde. Subs not used: McGrath, Standing, Samuel, Enckelman. Booked: Taylor. Att: 33,159
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
