The must-win game for Chelsea and beleaguered Jose Mourinho went according to the script.
Diego Costa took advantage of a defensive howler to notch his goal. He was involved in the second which became an Alan Hutton own goal.
The match was classic Chelsea of old. Nothing too spectacular but it was all very efficient.
Villa were by far the more adventurous in he first half but still went behind. The second half was all about containing the little the Villa had to offer.
Rubén Loftus-Cheek almost opened the scoring on seven minutes, but his clipped curler took a deflection off Joleon Lescott for a corner.
The Blues started the game with a high tempo, hoping to catch the Villans cold. But with the opposition content to hold deep and play on the counter-attack.
New boy Baba slipped at a crucial moment, and was out muscled by Alan Hitton on 11 minutes who powered through and forced a fine near-post save out of Asmir Begovic.
Villa went close again, on 19 minutes when a Jordan Ayew free-kick just inched over Begovic's crossbar.
All the main chances seem to fall to the away side, who th on 32 minutes Ayew walking past Cesar Azpilicueta before cutting the ball across the six-yard box where Rudy Gestede clipped a half-volley over Begovic's crossbar.
But it was the Blues who took the lead two minutes later and what a howler from the Villa defence. A simple kick out by goalkeeper Brad Guzan was meant for Lescott, but the former England man miss controlled the ball letting in Willian. The Brazil midfielder tapped the ball to his left, to the in-running Diego Costa, who had the easiest of chances to slot the ball home into the empty net.
Jose Mourinho opted to replace Loftus-Cheek at half-time, bringing back into the fold, Nemanja Matic, the player he dropped for the youngster.
Within eight minutes of the restart the Blues had doubled their lead. A clever chip by Fabregas to Costa saw the striker chest the ball down on the six-yard box, run and shoot. The ball too a big deflection off Alan Hutton, bamboozle Guzan and the ball crashed into the back of the Villa net.
Me.sea then shut up shop. Three points were what was required and three point was what they got.
Teams
Chelsea: Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Baba, Ramires, Pedro,Costa, Willian, Terry,Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek
Subs: Blackman, Oscar,Hazard,Mikel,Remy, Matic,Cahill
Aston Villa: Guzan, Richards, Gueye, Westwood,Lescott,Richardson, Ayew,Hutton, Gill,Gestede, Grealish
Subs, Bunn, Bacuna, Sinclair, Traore,Amavi, Sanchez, Angel Crespo
Referee Rodger East
Player ratings
Chelsea:
Begovic 7
Mr Consistent - at this rate Courtois will have a job getting back in the side when fit. Commanding and a true presence in the Chelsea rearguard.
Fabregas, 7
Back to his best. A provider of the decisive pass to Costa for the second goal. His confidence has returned and he bossed the midfield.
Zouma, 6
Quiet and unassuming off the pitch - Kurt is a monster on it. He had Gestede in his back pocket, if there is such a thing in a footballer's shorts.
Baba, 4
Terrible league debut for the Ghana defender. Out of his depth. A gamble by Mourinho which paid off in terms of the result but won't do his confidence any good.
Ramires, 7
He must have run a marathon such was the ground he covered. He closed down space and the opposition. The unsung hero in the side
Pedro, 6
A good start but he trailed off significantly. He went missing for most of the match.
Costa, 6
He scored one, forced the own goal for the second and he still had time to lambast the lino. His physical presence alone kept the Villa cent-backs occupied.
Willian, 7
Just like Ramires, the wide midfielder did his fair share of defending as well as having an eye for a forward run. He now essential to Chelsea's recovery in the league.
Terry 6
Became the club's joint third highest appearance holder with 465 outings in this game. He's equal to John Hollins but behind Peter Bonetti and Ron Harris. An easy game for JT - just another 191 to overtake Chopper.
,Azpilicueta, 5
Moved across by Mourinho to right back and looked like he played there all his Chelsea life. Never caught out but never got forward either.
Loftus-Cheek. 5
We are still waiting to see what is unique about this lad. But in his 45 minutes he looked strong and capable of a lung-busting run. If he's to be the new Frank Lampard, he will have to do better and score a goal fairly soon
Subs:
Blackman,
Oscar,
Hazard 4
On for Pedro but his eight minutes in the pitch did not amount to much. He would have been better off staying at home with his new child.,
Mikel,
Remy 1
Came on for Willian in the second minute of added time at the end of the game. He did not touch the ball. The point was for his successful crossing of the white line and a classy shake of the hand to Willian.
Matic 5
On for Loftus-Cheek at half time. He kept it simply, sat in front of the back four for most of the 45 minutes and broke up what little attacks Villa had to offer.
Cahill
Aston Villa: Guzan, Richards, Gueye, Westwood,Lescott,Richardson, Ayew,Hutton, Gill,Gestede, Grealish
Subs, Bunn, Bacuna, Sinclair, Traore,Amavi, Sanchez, Angel Crespo
Referee Rodger East