GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the action
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By Chris Bevan
1303: A big shout for a penalty for Aston Villa, and a first big decision for replacement referee Kevin Friend. Gabby Agbonlahor appears to be hauled down by Jose Bosingwa as he shapes to shoot but Friend waves away the home side’s appeals.1302: Aston Villa’s chance to waste a decent opportunity from a set-piece. Ashley Young curls a free-kick in from the left but it is straight at Petr Cech.1301: Er, this is getting a bit silly. Kevin Marriott just replaced Paul Rejar as the fourth official but has now been replaced himself. They are going to change the fourth official for the fourth time… I’ll keep you posted.1300: Chelsea have settled down a little bit now and are enjoying a bit of possession in midfield. Villa are defending well, though, and keeping the visitors quiet in the final third of the pitch.1257: Chelsea’s first chance - a free-kick from a dangerous position on the right. They need to put this into the Villa penalty area but Deco makes a complete hash of it and it does not even clear the first defender. A real waste.From anon via text on 81111: "How about Fergie for fourth official, he seems to know what is required"1253: More news on the officials at Villa Park. Paul Rejar is a former Football League referee but he will only be a temporary fourth official - the search is on for somebody else to take that role as soon as possible. If you’re at Villa Park, and a qualified ref, then show yourself…1252: An early corner for Villa, who have made a lively start. It’s aimed towards Gabby Agbonlahor at the near post but he can’t flick it on and Chelsea clear.From stirydka1 on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58462969)“I’m afraid that the absence of Michael Ballack could be crucial for Chelsea today. He’s been a brilliant leader for us so far, and although Florent Malouda is a much improved player, he doesnt offer the experience and aerial prowess of Ballack.”
1251: We’re running five minutes late but Chelsea have just got us started at Villa Park. Paul Rejar will be our fourth official.1248: The teams are in the tunnel at Villa Park, and kick-off will be in a couple of minutes apparently - at 1250 BST. And I thought it was just players who missed games after the international break…From Jonathan, from Cambridge via text on 81111: “No fourth official Where is Jimmy Hill when you need him”
1244: The reason for the delay at Villa Park is that referee Steve Bennett has been taken ill. Fourth official Kevin Friend will take charge, but they need to find a replacement for him on the touchline. No news on when we will get under way though.From Milnesy, via text on 81111: “Off to the Arsenal with a mate who is a Birmingham fan. He’s pointing out that the Blues cost us more than Eduardo’s injury two seasons ago. The four points dropped in the two games against them were massive - and blew our title chances. These are the games we have to win and this season seem to be giving more focus to.”
1241: Kick-off has been delayed at Villa Park - not entirely sure why, or how long for. I’ll tell you as soon as I know.From Stuart in Camberley, via text on 81111: “Re Ben Johnson on Twitter about 1202. No, just that all those players are first team players unlike the Arsenal subs.”
1238: Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008, on his return to Fratton Park: “I’m the best manager they ever had and I am very proud of what I achieved there. I’m looking forward to it, why shouldn’t I”
1234: Quite a spicy looking encounter at Fratton Park today, where Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp returns to former club Portsmouth for the first time since he quit to move to White Hart Lane around 12 months ago, along with fellow Pompey old-boys Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Krankjar. Defoe and Crouch both scored for Portsmouth as they won this fixture 2-0 last season - an awful lot has happened to the south coast club since then.
1231: Lots going on outside the top-flight too today, of course. And who better than our very own Football League Danny to tell you all about it (sorry, nobody else was available): "Lower league fans will note that Nottingham Forest host leaders Newcastle in the Championship’s big match at 1720 BST. Before that, Middlesbrough host Watford and West Brom take on Reading, while in League One, Charlton can take over top spot from Leeds - who don’t play until Monday - should they triumph over free-scoring Huddersfield. And there’s one match already under way - Scunthorpe lead Sheffield Utd 1-0."1228: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on his side’s trip to Aston Villa: "We want to play like we did in the game against Liverpool, not Wigan. If we play like we did against Liverpool we can win. If we play like we did against Wigan we’ll have a problem. We’ve won away at Sunderland and Stoke this season. Only at Wigan was there a problem."From Ben Johnson on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/chrismbevan)“Re 1202. You missed Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Eduardo and Carlos Vela for Arsenal. I suppose thats because Arsenal have replacements, whereas Liverpool don’t.”
1223: Ah, ignore that Aston Villa team news from 1212. Sorry folks, I got given duff info - it’s Ashley Young playing for Aston Villa, NOT Luke Young. I have dealt severely with the person concerned. If you give this page a refresh, it will be magically corrected before your very eyes.1219: Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at Sunderland today, on the frustration of seeing players injured while on international duty: “You just have to hope your players come back safely. The World Cup is coming, so we must wait and hope they all return. There is still one more international date next month so the same thing will happen again.”
From funky_gibster on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58462969)"Re 1210. What was the porpoise of that dolphin clip I wonder"1215: Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill on unsettled striker Emile Heskey’s need for first-team football to boost his England hopes: “In terms of centre-forwards, Gabby Agbonlahor has been fantastic for us. His recent form has been superb so it would be hard to shift him out of the team at the moment. John Carew has also been great for us and also having to battle to get into the team. That competition can only be good for me as a manager but I can’t guarantee people playing every single week.”
1212: TEAM NEWS Aston Villa v Chelsea
England striker Emile Heskey again finds himself on the subs bench for Aston Villa despite his concerns over his lack of recent starts. For Chelsea, Petr Cech is back in goal following suspension, while Jose Bosingwa recovers from a hamstring problem to make the starting line-up - though Michael Ballack (ankle) is out.1210: One other thing that caught my eye during international week was a new rule that might allowStoke defender Ryan Shawcrossamong others, to play for Wales andHearts midfielder Andy Driverto represent Scotland. Welsh boss John Toshack is so desperate for new talent, however, that I’ve heard he’s casting his net (ahem) a little further -could these dolphins take Wales to Euro 2012
From escapehere on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58462969)“I fancy Chelsea and Liverpool to lose today but big wins for Arsenal and Man Utd.”
1208: We’ve got a busy day today, starting with Chelsea at Aston Villa at 1245 BST, ahead of seven other matches at 1500 BST - so I need you lot to get involved really. You’ve got a choice too - use606,](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58462969)text me via 81111 or even drop me a tweet onTwitter.](http://twitter.com/chrismbevan)Go on, I know you want to.
1205: TEAMS Aston Villa v Chelsea
Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Milner, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Delph, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Shorey, Beye, Gardner.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Malouda, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba. Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Joe Cole, Zhirkov, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)1204: It’s not just injuries that managers have to worry about when they watch their players jet off to foreign climes. They’re also not altogether sure when they will actually come back. Birmingham will be without Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez at Arsenal after he missed his flight back from South America following Ecuador’s match in Chile. And Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios spent two days celebrating after helping Honduras beat El Salvador to qualify for South Africa 2010 (their first World Cup finals since 1982). He’s back in the UK now, just about, but will miss his side’s trip to Portsmouth.
1202: The latest victims are Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Sotirios Kyrgiakos (all Liverpool), Michael Ballack (Chelsea) and Glenn Whelan (Stoke) - all of whom will be absent from today’s games after being injured playing for their country. None of them actually did fall off a ladder, though, as far as I know - although Ballack was crocked in a tackle from Blues team-mate Yury Zhirkov, which I’m sure delighted Carlo Ancelotti no end.
1201 BST: I guess that, for Premier League managers, international weeks are a bit like watching an episode of Casualty; you know from the start that somebody is going to fall off a ladder, or down the stairs, but you’re not sure who and you don’t know quite how badly they will get hurt.