Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea, Barclays Premier League: as it happened

A real toxic atmosphere around Villa Park this afternoon and their appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Eric Black's side lacked the fight and the heart for the task of taking on a Chelsea side, who have shown themselves to be very beatable this season.

That is all we have time for on this Premier League live text. We have live coverage of Arsenal vs Watford and the other five 3pm kick-offs here, and Liverpool vs Tottenham, but until next time goodbye.

Full time: Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea

Aston Villa very much on the brink and their relegation could be confirmed as early as next weekend after their seventh defeat on the spin to Chelsea. Guus Hiddink maintains his unbeaten Premier League record and there was plenty of encouragement for the future after Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored his first top flight goal and Alexandre Pato netted on his Blues debut. Pedro struck twice after the break which led to strong protests from Villa fans.

Jack Grealish volleys over after Ayew's cross. Plenty of efforts on goal from Villa towards, but Courtois has barely been tested.

Red card: Alan Hutton (Aston Villa)

Second yellow card for Alan Hutton, who dives in recklessly on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the referee has little option but to dismiss the Scot. A bad afternoon just gets worse.

The various paper signs which have been held up by Villa fans are now being made into paper planes and directed towards the playing surface. Oh dear.

Banners and placards being held up by several Villa fans with around 12 minutes of the game remaining. Branislav Ivanovic shoots at goal from a 30-yard free-kick, which is easily saved by Guzan. Strange moment.

Jake Clarke-Salter on for his Chelsea debut, the third player to make their first appearance for the club this afternoon. Take note, Jose Mourinho.

Every touch from Bacuna is being booed by the Villa support. Very rare you see such despondency towards an individual from his own fans. Amid the mutiny a few encouraging moments for Villa as Grealish appeals for a penalty after being felled by Pedro, which is waved away, before Westwood volleys wide after Courtois' punch found the midfielder on the edge of the box.

Grealish into the action straight away and his cross-shot is narrowly missed by Ashley Westwood at the back post.

Reliably informed that the boos were directed towards Bacuna, who has stated his intention to leave and play Champions League football. Abandoning a sinking ship, if you will.

Carles Gil and Sanchez off for Villa, to boos from the home fans. Bacuna and Grealish on. Curious response. Real toxic atmosphere around Villa Park.

Leandro Bacuna and Jack Grealish coming on for Villa. There is no changing the result here but they are desperate for an injection of urgency. Radamel Falcao warming up for Chelsea.

Goal: Aston Vila 0-4 Chelsea (Pedro)

Still over half an hour remaining and this is getting excruciating for Villa. Guzan turns Pato's shot into the path of Pedro, who knocks the ball into an empty net. Chelsea could fill their boots here. The banners continue to be unfurled around Villa Park.

A banner reading 'NO FIGHT, NO PRIDE, NO EFFORT, NO HOPE' is held up at the Holt End. Pretty accurate I would venture.

Ayew takes on a half volley in anger and Courtois jumps and keeps the ball out. No shortage of efforts on goal from Villa, but it has been their work without the ball which has been their undoing.

Oscar given the freedom of the left hand side, coming inside and Guzan parries the ball and grabs it at the second attempt. This could get messy for the hosts.

Goal: Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (Pedro)

The Blues take just 51 seconds to treble their lead and put the game beyond Villa. Oscar exchanges passes with Oscar, who pulls it back and Pedro nets his sixth of the season from close range.

Second half on the way from Villa Park. Oscar coming on for replace fellow-Brazilian Kenedy. Back underway in the Midlands.

Half time: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

Aston Villa have been admirably impressive but they have folded in this first half as Chelsea go in at the break with a two-goal advantage having barely broken sweat. It has been a half of firsts; a maiden Premier League goal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, a first Chelsea appearance for Alexandre Pato and an opening goal in English football for the Brazilian from the penalty spot. Guus Hiddink's experiment currently working a treat. Meanwhile, it is a same old story under Eric Black.

Goal: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea (Alexandre Pato)

Aly Cissokho clumsily hauls down Alexandre Pato at the back post and Neil Swabrick has no hesitation but to point to the spot. The Villa defender survives being sent off but the damage is done as Pato marks his Chelsea debut with his first goal as he strokes beyond Guzan.

Penalty to Chelsea

Charles Gil on the floor after the briefest of contact with the hand of Baba Rahman. Replays suggest there was little or no contact at all but Gil does appear to be struggling. The game restarts and Loftus-Cheek almost doubles the lead but he misses the far post after intercepting a pass on the edge of the Villa box.

Chance for Villa and probably their best of the first half. Jordan Ayew glides his way through the heart of the Chelsea back-four buts shoots wide when he should have hit the target. This 45 minutes has not been without encouragement for the hosts.

Chelsea almost double their lead when Fabregas puts Baba free on the left channel of the area and instead of squaring the ball to Pato he shoots and is denied by Guzan. Now the American comes to the rescue again as Miazga connects with a Pedro free-kick.

Fabregas takes down Ayew on the edge of the box and is perhaps a tad lucky to avoid being dismissed, having been cautioned for a coming together with Gueye. Courtois makes an easy save from Ayew's effort.

Half a chance for Villa as Chelsea make a bit of a mess of a clearance. Courtois does well to keep out Westwood but as Rahman lashes the loose ball clear the ball is charged down by Ayew but the Chelsea 'keeper collects effort. No luck for Villa.

Yellow card for Gueye after a clash with Cesc Fabregas, who is also cautioned after a coming together in the Chelsea half. Not seen a replay of the incident yet but both players did square up to one another.

Goal: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Ruben Loftus-Cheek)

Alexandre Pato gets his first touch as a Chelsea player and he starts the move that sees the Blues take the lead. Mikel does brilliantly to tip-toe his way through the Villa midfield and when Pedro plays in Ivanovic his cross is turned in, via a deflection, by Loftus-Cheek who scores his first Premier League goal.

Loic Remy is struggling and we're going to get a first look at Alexandre Pato, since his January loan move from Corinthians. Remy hobbles off after just 23 minutes.

Andre Ayew shifts inside Miazga and shoots goalwards and it takes a wicked deflection off Azpilicueta and goes behind. Brief foray from Villa.

Ball in the net for Chelsea. Fabregas pings a long ball to fellow-countryman Pedro who takes the ball down and pokes beyond Guzan, but the linesman correctly flags him offside.

Alan Hutton tries a volley from full 30 yards and it balloons up into the air and Chelsea shepherd the ball back to Courtois.

BT Sport co-commentator refers to the interview with 'David Bernside' prior kick-off during his stint with the microphone. Professional, as you would expect from the former England striker. As you might have noticed, there is not much going on in a football sense.

Kenedy has been restored to a role further forward having previously been deployed at full back. He tries to put Loftus-Cheek through but he overhits it and Guzan collects the ball. Real lack of intensity in a game with little resting on it, unsurprisingly.

Better from Chelsea. Villa clear a corner as far as Pedro, who turns inside Ashley Westwood and floats an effort which brushes the roof of the net but goes safely over.

Trevor Francis is currently boring us with tales of yesterday during his football career in the Midlands. Fair to say those anecdotes are more engrossing than the games itself, which has failed to spark into life.

Early corner for Chelsea after some neat and patient build-up play. The set-piece comes to nothing however as Fabregas' cross is headed away. Now a free-kick for the Blues wide on the near touchline.

Underway at Villa Park. Can these two teams ignite their season? Updates on the way.

Teams out at Villa Park. Has to be said, there are significant gaps around the ground. There is set to be a fans protest after 74 minutes, but many have voted with their feet this afternoon.

On the face of it, there are few Premier League fixtures which have less riding on them today than this one at Villa Park. But with both clubs in transition the pair will want to end the season well even if their fate is largely decided. Kick off just five minutes away.

Eric Black on BT Sport: "I've done it before and we continue and try and prepare for today. The responsibility lies with the players and me. We have to change the direction here and we have to draw a line under it. That [Agbonlahor] has been dealt with and I want to concentrate on today's game. We can't control [fan protests] what we can control is what they think of us on the pitch."

Guus Hiddink on BT Sport: "It is strange being undefeated and not challenge for anything. The challenge is everyone has a high obligation to play for the club and the team. John [Terry] had a little problem with the tendon in his achillies and Gary [Cahill] we have to hear fro the doctor. He works with the English team and he came back and he was injured. The club is in transition and we have that aim of playing youngsters in our mind. It is not an excuse not to win games."

It has been a similarly difficult season for Chelsea, and though it will not end in relegation, they are very much an afterthought as the campaign reaches the sharp end. Attention has firmly turn to next season, with Antonio Conte likely to be appointed as the permanent replacement to Jose Mourinho. Conte takes charge of the Italian national team in the summer at Euro 2016, so that decision could be confirmed soon rather than later.

Can Aston Villa take any positives from the twilight of a campaign? You would think several of this current squad will be involved next season and it is important they show the fight that will be vital in ensuring they make their season in the Championship a brief one. Newly installed director David Bernstein is currently speaking to BT Sport and he suggests that a long-term managerial appointment will not be rushed into, after the exit of Remi Garde. He refuses to comment on any interest in Nigel Pearson.

It really it out with the old and in with the brand new for Chelsea. Is this a blueprint for the remainder of the season, with nothing more than pride to play for? It is the entrusting of young players that many have waited so long for at Stamford Bridge. Matt Miazga becomes the first player from America to represent the Blues. Jake Clarke-Salter, who has been involved in first team activities this season but he could make his first appearance this afternoon.

Eric Black makes two changes. Micah Richards, who was pictured with Agbonlahor in Dubai, comes in with Sanchez in the only alterations. Agbonlahor is not involved as expected.

American defender Matt Miazga makes his Chelsea debut at the heart of the back four. John Terry and Gary Cahill miss out. Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes into the midfield. Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato are on the bench, as is youngster Jake Clarke-Salter. Interesting team news from the visitors.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Cissokho, Sanchez, Westwood, Gana, Gil, Gestede, Ayew

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic (c), Miazga, Baba; Mikel, Fabregas; Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy; Remy.

It has been another week of turmoil for Aston Villa with much changing on and off the field. On Tuesday, Remi Garde was relinquished of his position as manager after less than five month in charge and after claiming just two league wins. Behind the scenes, Villa's board is now made up of two former FA figures in the form of David Bernstein and Adrian Bevington, who will both work with the existing board. This follows the departure of tom Fox as chief executive. To cap of the period of change, striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has been made unavailable for selection as he faces an investigation after being pictured smoking a shisha pipe while in Dubai.

We're due the teams from Villa Park in the next 20 minutes, but what do we already know about how both sides will line up?

Gabriel Agbonlahor is out as an investigation takes place into images of him smoking a shisha pipe while in Dubai. Adama Troare and Jack Grealish are available to interim boss Eric Black however.

Chelsea are without Diego Costa due to suspension after his red card against Everton, but Radamel Falcao could make his debut after his loan move from Corinthians. Eden Hazard remains out.

After the final international break of the season, we're firmly into the home stretch with seven weeks to go to decide the destination of the title, European places and relegation. Aston Villa are destined to fill one of those three places after a horrid campaign which leaves them 12 points from safety. Chelsea still have ambitions of qualifying for Europe but those hopes will be dashed if they fail to win today. Teams news and updates on the way from Villa Park.