Chelsea took an early lead through Enzo Fernandez following some good play from striker-for-the-night Pedro Neto.

But Aston Villa equalised just before the hour mark when Asensio bundled in from close range and the Spaniard grabbed a late winner in the 89th minute.

One change

Noni Madueke's injury against Brighton & Hove Albion last week meant Enzo Maresca was always going to have to make one change and that was the only alteration to his XI, as Reece James came into the side.

With five defenders named in the team, there was intrigue pre-match to see how the Blues would line up and captain James started in a deeper midfield role alongside Moises Caicedo, with Enzo pushing higher up the pitch.

With injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto started in the striker's position this evening, with Christopher Nkunku playing off the left and Cole Palmer the right.

The decision paid off almost immediately as Enzo's run from deep and through-ball released Neto on the left-side of the penalty area and Tyrone Mings was forced into a diving block to stop his shot.

Early goal

There was an early blow for the Blues when Trevoh Chalobah was forced off with injury after eight minutes but within a minute, we had the lead.

A neat turn from Caicedo deep inside our half led to the ball being spread to Neto, who had pulled out to the right flank. His dribble into the box was followed by a well-struck low delivery across the face of the goal and Enzo was there to bundle home from close range.

Villa worked their way back into the game and had a few good chances inside the opening half an hour. Ollie Watkins had a shot saved by Jorgensen, Marc Cucurella had to recover to make a last-ditch block to stop another close-range effort from the England international, and Jorgensen did well to save another toe-poke from the striker.

We had our share of opportunities too. Good play from Nkunku on the left saw Enzo curl a 20-yard effort on to the roof of the net, Palmer linked up well with Neto on the right before he had a deflected shot from outside the penalty area hit the side-netting, while Gusto volleyed a half-cleared corner on target to force a routine stop from Emiliano Martinez.

Watkins was providing a real threat for the hosts and he struck another fierce shot from the left-side of the penalty area into the near side-netting.

The end-to-end nature of the first half continued and it wasn't long until Nkunku curled a shot from outside the area which Martinez had to parry away.

The frenetic nature of the opening period settled as it drew to a close. James volleyed wide from a half-cleared corner and John McGinn fired over from distance with the final kick of the half but we entered the break worthy of our 1-0 advantage.

The first real chance of the second period came our way as another good interception from Caicedo set us on the way to an attack which ended with Neto dragging a powerful shot wide of the far post.

The Portuguese was stretching the Villa defence and after a well-time run saw him latch on to Nkunku's pass, the 24-year-old cut inside his defender and hit a shot which was easily saved by Martinez.

Equaliser

But it was Villa who were to get the game's next goal. Matty Cash's cross from the right picked out the unmarked Marcus Rashford at the back post and his volley back into the six-yard box was tapped home by Asensio for his first goal for the club.

The Blues were searching for the lead once more but clear openings were harder to come by after the restart. Neto had a tame volley saved, following a dangerous attack, and Palmer curled a shot wide from 20 yards but the hosts were a lot more defensively solid in the second period.

It looked as though our second was about to come when patient build-up play led to Caicedo sliding the ball through to Palmer. Martinez slipped as he came out to close down the forward when one-on-one but as Palmer looked to adjust his feet and shoot 20 yards out, he too slipped and in the end the recovering Ezri Konsa was able to make the block yards from his line.

Enzo then had a deflected shot saved by Martinez before it looked as though Villa themselves might be set to bundle in a second goal following a goalmouth scramble following Rashford's free-kick, but we managed to hack clear before either Konsa or Lamare Bogarde could shoot goalwards.

Villa were not done though and Jorgensen had to rush out to make an impressive save to deny substitute Donyell Malen after being put through by Rashford.

And with one minute of normal time remaining, Villa took the lead when Rashford's cross was volleyed goalwards by Asensio and the ball squirmed under the body of Jorgensen and into the net.

What it means

Today's defeat and Bournemouth's 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the afternoon means the Blues are still in sixth position in the table, level on points with the Cherries and one behind Manchester City in fourth, with the reigning champions playing league-leaders Liverpool tomorrow.

What's next

Our next game will be back at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday when we welcome bottom-of-the-table Southampton.

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah (Tosin 8), Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, James (c); Palmer, Enzo, Nkunku (Sancho 76); Neto
Subs not used: Sanchez, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Mheuka
Scorers: Enzo 9
Bookings: Enzo 56, Nkunku 72, Caicedo 89

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash (Garcia 70), Konsa, Mings (Bogarde 59), Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Ramsey (Rashford 46), Asensio, Rogers (Malen 78); Watkins (Bailey 77)
Subs not used: Olsen, Zych, Digne, Jimoh-Aloba
Scorers: Asensio 57
Bookings: McGinn 59

Referee: Michael Oliver