Chelsea were a curious mixture at Villa Park, not least because they fielded as many as four Englishmen. They opened with some unworldly touches by the silver-booted George Weah and finished with impressive gusto. In between, the multinationals muddled along.
Aston Villa manfully tried to fill in the gaps with a rejuvenated Paul Merson increasingly imposing his creative abilities on the match. It was a measure of Villa's own rehabilitation that he and his colleagues treated this draw almost like a defeat afterwards. They should not be disheartened; more important games lie ahead.
However much Gianluca Vialli and, more improbably, John Gregory press for a European place via a high league placing, it is knockout silverware that is really exercising their minds.
Villa and Chelsea have a common enemy - Leicester - and if this dreadnought can be outmanoeuvred then tantalising horizons beckon.
On this evidence Chelsea will be relying as much on Weah, who is eligible for Sunday's FA Cup tie, as Villa do on Merson for progress. The first full pairing of the Liberian and the Stg£10 million Chris Sutton could not be deemed a success. Sutton was substituted after 74 minutes but not before Weah, on more than one occasion, pointed to the ground only to see his co-striker respond by lofting the ball vaguely in his direction.
The reborn Merson may now have to become Renaissance Man since Villa's shortage of strikers points to an out-and-out attacking role against Leicester tomorrow night. Here, he produced virtually all Villa's opportunities with crosses and freekicks, quite apart from his side's most enterprising moment when he chipped Emerson Thome with one foot and then volleyed just over with the other.
Merson, according to Gregory, is now coming off the pitch "with nothing left in the tank" - but for all the right reasons. "He's been totally committed - his fitness level is up - and reminded me that he's first choice. And he's certainly commanded a lot of respect in the dressing room for the way he's playing." One of several curving free-kicks from Merson offered Villa's best opportunity, an unchallenged header squandered by Ugo Ehiogu after 75 minutes. Much earlier, Merson induced panic in Chelsea's penalty area that ultimately saw the impressive Jon Harley clear off the line before Benito Carbone shot wildly.
But no-one, not even Merson, could match Weah's early silver standard. On one occasion the Liberian appeared to defy geometry in turning past George Boateng; then he demonstrated an extraordinary combination of feet to outmanoeuvre the bewildered Ehiogu before grazing a post.
Chelsea threw on Tore Andre Flo and Gianfranco Zola but the last word almost lay with Weah. A twisting back-header brought an equally agile tip-over from David James who then saved equally outstandingly from his point-blank shot. Weah is not yet match-fit but, ominously, he says: "I'm getting there. I think I'm going to have a very good time in England."
ASTON VILLA: James, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Watson (Delaney 60), Taylor, Boateng, Merson, Wright, Joachim (Vassell 46), Carbone, Vassell (Stone 63). Subs Not Used: Thompson, Cutler.
CHELSEA: De Goey, Lambourde, Leboeuf (Hogh 53), Thome, Harley, Morris, Wise, Deschamps, Poyet (Flo 74), Weah, Sutton (Zola 74). Subs Not Used: Ambrosetti, Cudicini.
Referee: A Wilkie (Chester Le Street).
