Roberto di Matteo, having imprinted his name upon the record books in his last FA Cup final appearance, made an even greater impact at Wembley against Aston Villa to secure Chelsea's place in Europe next season.

While di Matteo's goal after just 42 seconds against Middlesbrough in 1997 set the Blues on their way to their first trophy for many years, this goal - gifted to him by David James' horrendous handling error - was even more important.

For a side, who only six weeks ago were taking a seemingly imposing 3-1 lead to Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, had otherwise been facing the prospect of their season petering away into the relative ignominy of the InterToto Cup.

As it is, in a final which rarely quickened the pulse, Gianluca Vialli duly secured his fourth trophy since taking charge but it was not just his close friend di Matteo - hardly a regular in the side this season - whom he had to thank.

For while virtually the whole Villa side again seemed to freeze at Wembley in their first FA Cup final for 43 years - just as they did in their semi-final against Bolton before going through on penalties - the main culprit was James.

Just a few days after being recalled to the England squad, the former Liverpool keeper committed an appalling error reminiscent of the mistakes that gave him the tag of 'Calamity James' at Liverpool which he has worked so hard this season to throw off.

When Gianfranco Zola swung over a free-kick with 17 minutes left, James flapped at the ball amid a crowd of players, pushed it onto Gareth Southgate's chest and di Matteo duly pounced to scoop a lunging shot home from four yards out.

In their 61st game of the season, Chelsea may not have ever reached the heights of performance that they have risen to previously this season in Europe, but they deserved their victory and the three weeks extra holiday which it now allows them ahead of next season.

The FA Cup may also have suffered enough knocks and blows to tradition already this season, what with holders Manchester United withdrawing and 'lucky losers' Darlington taking their place in a third round held before Christmas.

And while this final was hardly a fitting end to the Twin Towers before demolition work starts on the stadium next summer, it will have mattered little to Gianluca Vialli as he managed to fulfil the overbearing expectancy which now grips Stamford Bridge.

The Italian, who was left out of the starting line-up three years ago by Ruud Gullit, was just as pragmatic in his own selections as he ensured that Chris Sutton and Dan Petrescu suffered an even worse - and possibly ominous - fate by not even being included on the bench.

George Weah was also preferred to Tore Andre Flo, while Jody Morris also missed out, leaving Dennis Wise as the sole Englishman in the side, facing a far more predictable Villa line-up with just two overseas players.

Villa midfielder George Boateng was certainly intent upon making his presence felt immediately by Wise as he thundered in with a crunching tackle and the only surprise was that it took the Chelsea captain 20 minutes to exact revenge, for which he was booked.

While Wise did volley straight at James, while Paul Merson also lobbed a speculative volley just over the bar, that was about it for first-half excitement.

Teams

Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Wright (Hendrie 88), Boateng, Merson, Taylor (Stone 79), Carbone (Joachim 79), Dublin.

Subs Not Used: Samuel, Enckelman.

Booked: Barry, Boateng.

Chelsea: de Goey, Melchiot, Desailly, Leboeuf, Babayaro, Poyet, Wise, Deschamps, Di Matteo, Zola (Morris 90), Weah (Flo 88).

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Terry, Harley.

Booked: Melchiot, Wise, Poyet.

Goals: Di Matteo 73.

Att: 78,217

Ref: G Poll (Tring).