Chelsea were also going through a sticky patch the last time they welcomed Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge.
That was just over a year ago, when Frank Lampard was still fairly fresh in the job and back-to-back Premier League defeats to Manchester City and West Ham had underlined the scale of his rebuilding mission.
Then, goals from Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount earned Chelsea a 2-1 victory much more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
The problems are piling up for Frank Lampard as Chelsea prepare to host Aston Villa
12 months on and not only are Villa a far more dangerous proposition but the situation is much more fraught for Lampard.