Chelsea's title bid suffered a major blow with a defeat by Aston Villa in which two Blues players and manager Jose Mourinho were sent off.

The league leaders, who had a first-half goal ruled out for handball, were reduced to 10 men when Willian was shown a second yellow card.

And Villa made the extra man count as Fabian Delph finished Marc Albrighton's low cross

with a superb back-heel.

Ramires and Mourinho were then both ordered off in a bad-tempered finale.

The Blues' boss was sent to the stands for protesting during the melee that followed a two-footed lunge by Ramires on Karim El Ahmadi.

The defeat means Chelsea's Premier League lead over Manchester City is now six points. City, who had beaten Hull 2-0 earlier in the day despite captain Vincent Kompany's early red card, have three games in hand.

Mourinho has repeatedly played down his team's title chances and, on this evidence, he may be justified after a lacklustre performance that raised serious questions about their ability to stay on top of the pile.

The Blues created few chances in either half, with striker Fernando Torres anonymous up front and Brazilians Oscar and Willian lacking spark.