The striker scored the opener before a second deflected off Alan Hutton for an own goal after the break as the champions recorded only their third win of the season.

Diego Costa’s tap-in and an Alan Hutton own goal gave Chelsea their first win in four matches on Saturday as the Premier League champions beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Both sides came into the clash out of form and separated by just four points in the lower reaches of the table but Costa – returning from a suspension for his antics against Arsenal last month – proved key as goals in each half got Jose Mourinho’s men back on track after a tricky run of results.

Mourinho was charged by the Football Association in midweek for his outburst after the 3-1 defeat to Southampton and dropped the likes of Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill and Oscar to the bench from that loss.