Chelsea have opened up the English Premier League title race after they were defeated 1-0 away at Aston Villa on Saturday.

With Manchester City digging deep to beat Hull City 2-0 earlier on,the onus was on Chelsea to respond and sustain their lead on the table.

The defeat has dealt Chelsea's title ambitions a blow,after playing an ill-tempered game that two of their players were sent off and Jose Mourinho sent to the stands.

Paul Lambert's young Villa team were adventurous and did not show any fear coming up against Mourinho's big guns.

Chelsea rarely got going and lacked the runs in attack to get past Villa's back four who were very composed with their approach.

Christain Benteke came close for Villa,seeing his volley go inches wide off Petr Cech's goalpost in the first half.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic had a goal disallowed at the end of the first half for handball,before it was bundled home.

However,things went bad for Chelsea after Willian was sent off in the second half,not quite long after Mourinho changed his mind against not substituting him.

Villa continued moving and Benteke was close yet again,this time the Belgian drilled his shot just inches off the post.

But they found the breakthrough when Fabian Delph broke play,winning the ball in his own half and galvanising towards Chelsea's goal. The left midfielder passed to Marc Albrigton who looked up and squared the ball in his path,and with a deft backhell,Delph connected to the ball to score a goal.

The goal deflected Chelsea and they became frustrated. Delph came close again,hitting the upright post moments later.

With just minutes to the end of the game,Ramires had a rush of blood in his head and lounged a tackle into El Mohamdy which drew him an instant red card.

Mourinho was equally sent to the stands following a stand-off that saw him contesting the call.

The Portuguese has now failed to win any of his five away games against Aston Villa in the Premier League,drawing three times and losing twice on his five previous visits.

Chelsea's loss has now opened a vista for other teams to capitalise,with Liverpool,Man City all having games in hand.