Aston Villa revived their European hopes and put a major question mark against Chelsea's efforts to obtain automatic qualification for the Champions League with a thrilling victory at Villa Park.

Claudio 'Tinkerman' Ranieri opted to make eight changes from the side held to a goalless draw by Middlesbrough and there was a disjointed look about Chelsea's performance.

Now they have opened the door to Manchester United in the battle for the second guaranteed Champions League spot with the Red Devils six points adrift but with two games in hand - and Chelsea still having to visit Old Trafford.

Ranieri's desire to chop and change his side has had a question mark over it all season and on this occasion it well and truly backfired.

After a bright start they were hustled out of their stride by a Villa side which in contrast is having to pick itself because of the smallness of David O'Leary's squad.

They shrugged off their tired limbs to put themselves firmly back on course for a UEFA Cup spot.

Gareth Barry had another fine game to push his claims for a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad while Gavin McCann was a steadying influence alongside him in breaking up Chelsea attacks.

Jlloyd Samuel also confirmed his growing stature which won him a call-up from Eriksson for the recent friendly in Sweden.

Chelsea were forced to make a late change on the substitutes' bench with Juan Sebastian Veron tweaking a thigh in the warm-up and being replaced by Jesper Gronkjaer.

Hernan Crespo, starting a game in partnership with Adrian Mutu for the first time since January, had the ball in the net for the Londoners after five minutes but he was adjudged offside.

Chelsea, looking to avenge a Carling Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Villa, looked the sharper side in the early stages.

And the visitors went ahead with the first clear-cut opening of the game after 12 minutes via Crespo's 10th goal of the campaign.

Adrian Mutu sent a near-post header crashing against the post from a Wayne Bridge cross and Crespo was the first to react to the rebound and had an easy tap-in.

Crespo could have doubled Chelsea's lead a minute later as he met a cross from Geremi but sent his shot just past the post.

Villa, showing only one change from the side involved in Saturday's clash at Bolton, battled their way back into the game as Chelsea failed to capitalise on their flying start.

John Terry had to be alert to cut out a low centre from the impressive Gareth Barry. A corner from Lee Hendrie rebounded towards his own goal off Robert Huth but Villa skipper Olof Mellberg inadvertently blocked the ball before the danger was cleared.

Villa were handed an unexpected lifeline courtesy of a needlessly-conceded penalty by Mario Melchiot after 37 minutes.

Barry went up to contest the ball on the left side of the Chelsea box and was pushed to the ground by Melchiot.

Up stepped Darius Vassell to drill the spot-kick past Marco Ambrosio for his 10th goal of the campaign.

A glaring miss by Peter Crouch within 60 seconds of the restart prevented Villa from going in front.

Vassell's persistence won him the ball off John Terry after he chased a long pass from Barry and he was left with a clear run at goal.

Ambrosio did well to parry the shot from the England striker but Crouch had the goal at his mercy from the rebound only to shoot wide from seven yards out.

But in the 50th minute the Holte End erupted as Hitzlsperger fired Villa into the lead with his fifth goal of the campaign.

Vassell played the ball into the path of the German Under-21 captain and his low left-footed drive from 20 yards out flew past the dive of Ambrosio into the corner of the net.

Then before the cheers had died down Hendrie made it 3-1. A throw-in from Samuel was flicked on by Crouch at the near post and Hendrie reacted the quickest to volley home from close range.

Chelsea tried to rally and Thomas Sorensen saved bravely at the feet of substitute William Gallas.

Crespo scored a stunning second goal in the third minute of injury time from the edge of the Villa area but it was too little, too late.

Teams

Aston Villa Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hendrie (Whittingham 55), McCann, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Vassell (Dublin 88), Crouch (Luke Moore 82).

Subs Not Used: Postma, Ridgewell.

Goals: Vassell 39 pen, Hitzlsperger 49, Hendrie 52.

Chelsea Ambrosio, Melchiot (Gallas 61), Terry, Huth, Bridge, Parker, Lampard, Geremi, Duff (Gronkjaer 71), Mutu (Cole 71), Crespo.

Subs Not Used: Gudjohnsen, Sullivan.

Booked: Huth.

Goals: Crespo 11, 90.

Att: 41,112

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).