It was Mason Mount who scored his first two club goals of the season, as well as keeping Graham Potter's perfect start to his managerial career going.
After six minutes, the England international was given an opening when the ball fell to him.
In front of the England boss, Mount added a second from a 25-yard free-kick, but he was helped by Villa's keeper.
Danny Ings, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey were denied by Kepa Arrizabalaga as Villa tried to score in the first half.
Potter gambled by playing a forward at right wing-back in place of James, who is out of the World Cup with a knee injury, and his side have won the last five games.
After seeing Villa dominate the first half without finding the net, Potter moved up front and enjoyed a more comfortable second half, which kept the Blues in fourth place.
Villa might have been let down by two costly errors, and were booed at the final whistle, but they would have been encouraged by their first-half display, if not their finishing.
After joining the club last month, Potter decided to play the England international on the left in his first game, after experimenting with him as a wing- back.
It backfired against Villa as the hosts tore down the flanks and left the right side of the defence exposed.
They were left chasing the ball after Mount scored. The fact that McGinn was on Villa's left side helped as Ings, Watkins and Bailey caused problems.
The defence was indebted to Arrizabalaga, who made six first half saves, including a brilliant stop to deny Ings.
Five minutes before half-time, Potter admitted that his plan had failed because he moved Ruben Loftus-Cheek into the right wing-back position.
Cucurella and Kai Havertz were replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta and Kalidou Koulibaly. They could have gone further ahead whenSterling headed wide and had another attempt saved.
Mount, who is in talks about a newChelsea contract, killed the game off with a well-taken free-kick, but again he had a helping hand.
The ball went to the goalkeeper's left, but crossed the line close to the middle of the goal.
As he made his way down the tunnel, he was jeered and booed by the crowd.
The manager asked for recentfrustration about his team's results to be directed in the right way and the hosts responded with a first half that saw them hit the woodwork twice.
Arrizabalaga made a double save to stop McGinn and Ramsey, as well as a brilliant save from Ings, to prevent them from scoring.
With Ings and Bailey in the starting line-up, there was plenty of joy down the flanks and the hosts were aided by Douglas Luiz in the middle.
As Ben Chilwell's flick lopped up to him in the penalty area, it was inexplicable for Mings to miss his headed ball.
Villa could argue that he was lucky to stay on the pitch after his tackle on Ramsey.
There were fewer chances in the second half as the team tightened up. McGinn was denied once more by Arrizabalaga after 62 minutes, and within three minutes there was no chance of a comeback.
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