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THERE was an amusing case of mistaken identity during Villa's transfer deadline-day dealings.

A satellite channel, which shall remain nameless, got slightly muddled by the arrival of James Collins, amidst all their excitement about the window closing (blimey, anyone would think it's Armageddon they're counting down to, not the end of football's wheeling and dealing for a few months).

Anyway, the Wales defender was still crossing the t's and dotting the i's on his contract when the TV station reported that he was due to line up for Villa's reserves that very night.

FABIAN Delph's spirits might need lifting after Saturday's opening-day defeat to Wigan - but the youngster is definitely more interested in goals than ghouls.

The teenage midfielder checked out of his temporary accommodation after being spooked by his Villa team-mates' scare stories that it was haunted.

"Don't talk to him about ghosts," laughed captain Stiliyan Petrov.

Join our Villa writers in discussing events at the City of Manchester Stadium as Villa go in search of a needed win....

Luiz Felipe Scolari may have an injury crisis on his hands but Chelsea's title challenge continues apace, with Aston Villa the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Scolari's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

The hosts, already without the services of Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, were missing Alex from their starting line-up and then saw midfielder Cole limp off.

Anelka, struggling with muscle spasms before the match, was also taken off at the break meaning Franco di Santo was Scolari's frontline striker for 45 minutes.

It mattered little. Scolari had never met Martin O'Neill before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Villa boss has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as Chelsea gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.

Villa had been billed as the team to put pressure on Chelsea's unbeaten home league record, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young enough to trouble most sides.

Marlon Harewood struck his first goal of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the group stages of the UEFA Cup despite being held at home in the second leg by their Bulgarian opponents.

The former West Ham striker broke the deadlock after 27 minutes only for the visitors to level matters shortly after the break through a controversial penalty from Wilfred Niflore.

But Villa were always in command and are now guaranteed at least four more matches in the competition.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill had enough confidence in his squad to make six changes from what has become his established Barclays Premier league line-up, with Martin Laursen, Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker,
Gareth Barry, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor all rested.

Armed with a 3-1 lead from the first leg, it was an ideal scenario for the Villa chief ahead of Sunday's league meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.