Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn: Home side continue rise under Steve Bruce

Aston Villa continued their climb up the Sky Bet Championship table under the management of Steve Bruce with a 2-1 home win over struggling Blackburn.

Villa are unbeaten in five games under Bruce and, on this occasion, they were indebted to two goals from striker Jonathan Kodjia.

Following a goalless first half, Blackburn took a 54th-minute lead through striker Sam Gallagher, but two goals, including a penalty equaliser, in 14 minutes from Kodjia enabled Villa to scramble home.

Villa, the only Championship side not beaten at home this season, recalled midfielder Jack Grealish following a three-match suspension and he played a leading role in the success.

The youngster figured early on when he engineered several promising Villa attacks, but they struggled to break down a Blackburn side happy to defend - a policy that had seen them concede just one goal in their previous four away games.

They were in no small way assisted by Villa's lacklustre strike-force, which again lacked finishing power until midway through the second period.

It was Blackburn who demonstrated their potential threat, in the 20th minute, when Gallagher forced goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini to make a fine save diving to his right to keep out a smart header from Jason Lowe's cross.

That encouraged Blackburn to take the game to Villa and, as a result, the play became more open, Kodjia responding for Villa with a thundering shot that Jason Steele saved with cool assurance.

Blackburn switched from a defensive mode upon realising Villa's lack of attacking penetration, and Ben Marshall pushed forward on a couple of occasions.

Kodjia, criticised by Birmingham manager Gary Rowett for the number of times he went to ground in last week's derby, attracted the wrath of the Blackburn players when he dropped on his face apparently injured, only to spring to his feet following the arrival of the referee.

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It was his strike partner, Ross McCormack, who went closest to opening Villa's account just before the break with a close-range angled header from Albert Adomah's cross, which was easily saved by Steele.

As if to atone, Villa again produced an attacking flurry, but they were again repelled by a compact Blackburn defence.

Blackburn went ahead when the unmarked Gallagher headed home a harmless-looking left-wing cross from Charlie Mulgrew in the 54th minute.

It took Villa just three minutes to get back on level terms. Grealish dribbled across the edge of the penalty area only to be brought down by Gordon Greer, and Kodjia, to the obvious relief of the Villa fans, made no mistake from the spot.

The Ivory Coast striker then struck his second goal of the game, in the 71st minute. Only three minutes previously, Gabby Agbonlahor had replaced McCormack and he made an immediate impact, providing the pass to Mile Jedinak, who set up Kodjia to drive past Steele for the winning goal.

Villa boss Steve Bruce:

"It proves just how difficult it has been for the club over the last 18 months. I think that is the difficulty we all face trying to turn this juggernaut of a club around in producing results.

"We know we have a bit of quality at the top end of the pitch but we have to address what the club has been through over the last couple of years. I thought Kodjia probably had his best game for the club and hopefully we can continue moving upwards. 

Blackburn boss Owen Coyle:

"In the first half we dominated the game and could have been two goals ahead. We had to replicate that form, although Villa started the game better - but then we scored a wonderful goal. 

"I've told the players, and I was quite vocal about it, that they need not to give away soft goals when we are in a winning position. It is frustrating because we are performing well against good teams and it is hard to leave without any points."