Chelsea put in a superb home performance to see off Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Two first-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka, both later substituted with knocks, were enough to maintain our position on top of the table, and the score could have been far more.

It was a display that was as efficient as it was attractive, with passing moves constantly catching the eye, and bamboozling the outclassed visitors.

The talk before the game was of the threat to Chelsea's 85-game unbeaten league record on home soil, and whether in-form Villa could be the side to bring it to an abrupt end, with Chelsea missing several key players.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was once again forced into changes, with Branislav Ivanovic making his Premier League debut at centre-back, replacing Alex who had not recovered from a knock picked up in Romania.

Ashley Cole was passed fit to return at left-back, while Joe Cole came back into the side after missing two games with a hip injury. Nicolas Anelka was back in up front after Didier Drogba's knee injury collected in Cluj.

Aston Villa manager Martin O' Neill was once again fortunate to call on an unchanged side for the seventh successive match, surely a record in modern times.

There was still no league debut for Steve Sidwell, missing since pre-season through injury.

It didn't look too likely early on, as Michael Ballack drove low from 25 yards, forcing Brad Friedel into a low save, spilling the ball around the post for the game's first corner.

Moments later it was Florent Malouda testing the American with a powerful effort, and again Friedel only parried. Perhaps it could be a rare off day against Chelsea for the 37-year-old.

Somehow he was untroubled on 10 minutes as Malouda and Frank Lampard combined to release Nicolas Anelka in behind the Villa defence. He cut inside and squared across the box, but Joe Cole was inches short of a finishing touch and Villa cleared.

The home side remained well on top, and Anelka again teed up a chance for a team-mate. This time Frank Lampard was guilty of missing the target, and he should have scored, sending his close-range header the wrong side of the post.

The game was by now 20 minutes old, and the visitors were still to settle. Little and large pairing Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew were struggling to impose themselves as they had done on other defences this season, looking isolated as Chelsea controlled the midfield battle.

A goal looked almost inevitable, and sure enough Joe Cole slammed home a flowing team move that had included namesake Ashley, Malouda and Lampard as the ball went from left to right.

Ten yards out and with space, Cole knew exactly what to do and fired well beyond Friedel. No less than we deserved from a bright opening.

Five minutes later Anelka almost doubled the lead, letting rip with an unstoppable drive from just outside the box. The crossbar rattled, and the ball ricocheted over.

Anybody harbouring doubts over the Frenchman's ability to fill in for Drogba should take note of his early link up play in this game, bringing his midfielders into play with his neat touches and intelligent movement.

He was part of the move that produced a free-kick in a central position, ten yards outside the area, Lampard the man brought down. Malouda lined it up, Ballack looked interested, but Lampard took the shot, and Friedel again could only parry, though this time he did well to do so.

The French pair were in partnership again on 32 minutes as Anelka laid off for Malouda to crack a shot towards Friedel's near post. He got down well to hold.

Another ten minutes passed beforea second goal eventually did come. Ashley Cole reached the by-line, crossed low to Ballack who side-footed straight at the keeper, Friedel parried once, then twice as Anelka closed in, but couldn't prevent the 29-year-old's second follow-up going in.

Villa did hit back, as Carew forced Cech to save with his legs, but as the fourth official's board indicating one minute of added time went up, it was Chelsea who again threatened, but this time Joe Cole shot wide.

That brought to an end a hugely impressive first half for the home side, but half-time brought more worry, with Anelka withdrawn. Franco Di Santo replaced him.

For Villa, O' Neill moved Nigel Reo-Coker to right-back as Luke Young and Curtis Davies were substituted, Carlos Cuellar and James Milner replacing them, with the England Under 21 man moving to the right flank previously occupied by Reo-Coker.

They started more brightly, Stiliyan Petrov shooting just wide, while at the other end Di Santo got his first effort in on 49 minutes.

As John Terry received treatment for a back problem, Joe Cole looked in trouble, and Scolari whistled for Salomon Kalou to replace him. Terry at least was okay to continue.

Chelsea's rhythm had been interrupted slightly as the second half progressed, but the chances still came. First Ballack struck ferociously at Friedel, and then Lampard flashed a low ball across the face of goal, but again there was no finish.

Agbonlahor offered a warning on the hour mark that concentration would need to be maintained when he slipped between Terry and Petr Cech to reach the ball first, but was unable to fashion a shooting opportunity. It was a rare slip from the England captain, perhaps already contemplating international duty with this lead looking comfortable.

It could have looked far more comfortable two minutes later when Ballack had the goal looming six yards out, with time to pick his spot. He leaned back too far, and fired over, perhaps put off by Kalou stood next to him.

The Ivorian had his own chance within a minute when he raced through, but Villa captain Martin Laursen blocked. Then he did find the net, with a looping overhead kick, only to see his acrobatic effort ruled out by a linesman's flag.

Once again it was all Chelsea, and Malouda could have scored a third when Lampard looped a ball over the defence. Laursen just got a foot in.

The Blues were better all over the pitch, Ivanovic looking at home, dealing with the powerful threat of Carew.

The first booking of the contest arrived on 67 minutes, Cuellar cautioned for a foul on Malouda. From the free-kick on the left, Friedel had to punch over Lampard's curling cross cum shot.

Kalou danced round challenges in his own half, laid off to Ballack who promptly released Di Santo, and the young Argentine easily beat his marker but shot over. He was clearly keen to impress.

By now Chelsea's pressure had reached onslaught status, and the visitors were simply no threat. It was a huge achievement for Chelsea's back four that the full-backs Ashley Cole and José Bosingwa were involved as much in the opposition half as their own..

Malouda was replaced by Juliano Belletti to a standing ovation, and the fun on the pitch continued as Lampard forced Friedel into another save, while Belletti went wide with his own overhead effort.

Lampard was evidently keen to get his name on the scoresheet, but couldn't quite find his range, shooting wide with two minutes remaining when he might have expected to work Friedel.

Cech had to be alert again to deny the pacy Agbonlahor, and still Villa could not add to their one shot on target as Reo-Coker surged forward and shot wide.

Into injury time, Scolari's men could now relax, three points secured and that unbeaten home record as safe as it ever has been. There could have been more goals, but offered a 2-0 win before the game, most would have accepted.

With a fortnight's break for internationals, the Premier League table will be a welcome sight for Chelsea fans, and perhaps offer our injured players a little time to recover for Middlesbrough on October 18.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Kalou 56), Ballack, Lampard, Malouda (Belletti 82); Anelka (Di Santo h-t).

Goals J Cole 20, Anelka 42

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Friedel; L Young (Cuellar h-t), Davies (Milner h-t), Laursen (c), Shorey; Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, A Young; Agbonlahor, Carew (Harewood 71).

Booked Cuellar 67, Petrov 77, Shorey 84