Goalkeeper David James may have achieved much, including an England recall, since his move to Aston Villa but there is something about facing Chelsea that brings out the very worst in him.

While some keepers manage to get away with their errors or have them redeemed by team-mates, Villa are finding that they have to pay the highest prices for James' irregular but monumental lapses.

Just like in last season's FA Cup final, when he dropped the ball at Roberto di Matteo's feet, James committed an appalling blunder at Stamford Bridge to gift the west London side what proved to be their winner.

The Villa keeper was under no pressure when a back-pass arrived at his feet just before half-time but he slammed his clearance straight at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who recovered to lob the England international.

Gareth Southgate tried to retrieve the situation by clearing the danger but the referee's assistant ruled that the ball had crossed the line before he managed to do so.

Immediate replays were inconclusive but there was no consolation for James, whose mistake against Manchester City also led to Villa being knocked out of the Worthington Cup earlier this season.

Not that James, who recently handed in a transfer request only to withdraw it soon afterwards, has not proved - by and large - to have been a superb cut-price purchase by boss John Gregory.

A series of inspired performances have ensured he has not only won back his place in the England squad but also his second cap in the recent friendly against Italy.

However, he will never completely escape the 'Calamity James' tag which became an albatross around his neck at Liverpool until he eradicates the major gaffes completely from his game.

And while his team-mates must share some blame for their continuing inability to score regularly, James' error turned the game at Stamford Bridge even if Chelsea eventually deserved their victory.

Indeed, it was not a happy day all round for first-choice keepers, for Chelsea's Ed de Goey was also dropped after mistakes in the Boxing Day 2-2 draw at Ipswich.

With Marcel Desailly suspended and Dennis Wise feeling the after-effects of flu, there were more changes in the Chelsea line-up, with Gianfranco Zola on the bench and replacement Gus Poyet in a fluid right wing-back role.

At least Chelsea were back in their home sanctuary, where they have only lost once all season compared to their continuing strife on their travels.

Despite a weakened Villa defence without Alpay and Gareth Barry, Chelsea still wasted a number of openings in the first half.

Chelsea attempted to sign Southgate during the summer only to baulk at the asking price, but it was clear to see why Villa were so keen to hang on to their influential captain as he organised all of those around him.

Despite the fate that would later befall James, the keeper was also quickly off his line to deny Hasselbaink twice and produced a superb reaction save to parry a powerful header by Poyet.

Eidur Gudjohnsen also wasted two openings and it seemed as though Chelsea were becoming frustrated at being unable to make the breakthrough.

James' mistake changed all of that, however, and the keeper was back out to practice almost immediately after his team-mates had walked into the visitors' dressing room following the half-time whistle.

The Chelsea fans took delight in barracking him during the interval and continued to do so when the match resumed, although he did soon manage to gather a shot straight at him by Gudjohnsen.

Hasselbaink, who was now coming alive as he began to dangerously peel off the Villa defence, managed to beat James shortly afterwards with a thunderous shot after a mazy run but the ball cannoned back off the bar.

Villa did create two chances at the other end but on-loan striker Gilles de Bilde wasted them both as he shot wide and then, after a careless back-pass by Mario Melchiot, could find no way past stand-in keeper Carlo Cudicini.

And although Chelsea, for whom Gudjohnsen had a penalty appeal turned down, managed to let a 2-0 lead slip at Ipswich on Boxing Day, they remain a different proposition at home.

Villa's lightweight attack only had a weak header by substitute Darius Vassell to show for their efforts in a game which never came to life.

Even James' desperate attempt to find salvation, as he came up for a late free-kick, came to nothing. It was, once more against Chelsea, simply not his day.

Teams:

Chelsea Cudicini, Leboeuf, Terry, Melchiot, Harley (Wise 89), Poyet, Jokanovic, Morris, Dalla Bona, Gudjohnsen (Ferrer 87), Hasselbaink (Zola 79).

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Lambourde.

Goals: Hasselbaink 45.

Aston Villa James, Delaney, Wright, Southgate, Staunton, Boateng, Merson, Stone, Taylor, Dublin (Vassell 76), De Bilde.

Subs Not Used: McGrath, Standing, Samuel, Enckelman.

Booked: Taylor.

Att: 33,159

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).