Marlon Harewood sent a triple reminder to Martin O'Neill with a well-taken hat-trick as Villa proved too strong for a young Chelsea side.

And debutant Moustapha Salifou also made his mark, creating two goals as Kevin MacDonald's men extended the unbeaten start to the season in style.

The other goals came from fit again midfielder Patrik Berger, Chris Herd and luckless Chelsea defender Patrick van Aanholt.

Villa had the lead on five as Stieber crossed from the left and Chelsea defender van Aanholt spectacularly directed the ball past his keeper.

Berger fired over the bar with a dipping effort from the edge of the box on nine as he linked up with Harewood.

Osbourne did well to clear a low centre from Stoch on 16 as the visitors looked to level matters.

Debutant Salifou made his mark on 21, breaking down the right and crossing for Berger to volley home from close range.

Berger almost had a second three minutes later as he collected the ball midway inside the Chelsea half, advanced ten yards and unleashed a rising left-foot drive that just cleared the bar.

Lund went close with a cross cum shot from the right on 26 that keeper Taylor did well to tip over the bar.

Sinclair rattled the Villa bar with a vicious drive on 31, before Stoch fired over from the rebound.

Salifou almost added a third for Villa on 42 as Taylor could only parry an Earls cross from the right, but the Togo international fired into the side netting from an acute angle.

Harewood then saw a low angled drive deflected behind, before Davies headed wide from a Berger cross.

Cummings sent a low shot on the turn straight at Sorensen on 49.

Berger raced onto a clever back-heel from Salifou two minutes later, but his low drive was blocked by van Aanholt.

Hogg fired high into the Holte End from 35 yards on 56. Earls then fired onto the roof of the net with a cross cum shot from the left.

Harewood added a third for Villa on 59, slotting nonchalantly past Taylor as he met another clever flick from Salifou.

Osbourne met a Berger flick on 66 and fired narrowly wide with an angled effort from the edge of the box.

Sorensen raced off his line to deny Cummings on 70 as Chelsea looked for a way back into the game.

Berger tested Taylor with a curling left-foot free-kick on 74. The Chelsea keeper gathered comfortably.

Salifou was denied a debut goal two minutes later as he too fired straight at Taylor.

Berger was denied a second of the night on 79 as his low shot was blocked by van Aanholt.

Villa were not to be denied though and Harewood met Berger's right-wing centre to steer the ball past Taylor on 80.

Harewood, chasing a hat-trick, cut in from the left on 85, but saw his low shot blocked by Worley.

Harewood completed his treble on 90, flicking the ball past Taylor after good work from strike partner Mikaelsson.

Herd added a\ sixth for Villa in stoppage time, slotting in at the far post as Lund and Mikaelsson combined down the right and the latter crossed to the far post.

VILLA: Sorensen, Lund, O'Halloran, Osbourne, Lowry (booked 87), Davies, Salifou, Hogg (booked 67), Harewood, Stieber, Berger. Subs: Herd (for Osbourne 80), Bevan, Earls (for Stieber 39), Mikaelsson (for Berger 80), D.Bellon.

Chelsea: Taylor, Hutchinson, Magnay, Worley, van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Stoch, Grant, Cummings, Rodriguez, Sinclair. Subs: Simmonds (for Cummings 77), Searle, Sawyer (for Hutchinson ht), Woods (for Grant 79), Ofori-Twumasi.