Aston Villa continued their unbeaten league run on home soil with a flattering 3-2 win over Blackburn.
Villa continue unbeaten home run
Aston Villa continued their unbeaten league run on home soil with a flattering 3-2 win over Blackburn.
Goals from Luke Young, Gareth Barry and Gabriel Agbonlahor sealed the win for Villa, who were virtually outplayed for most of the game, but nonetheless sustain their push for a top four place in the league table.
Benni McCarthy, who was a late addition to the squad after replacing the injured Roque Santa Cruz, played some outstanding football, as did Stephen Warnock for a Rovers side who did not deserve to lose.
Both could draw positives from their performance at Villa Park, despite conceding defeat to Martin O'Neill's side who maintain their unbeaten home record in the league alongside Manchester United and Liverpool.
Rovers lead
It was Rovers who initially took the lead after 30 minutes of play through Warnock.
McCarthy picking up from a cross in by Villanueva, held the ball up, before picking out the run into the box of Warnock.
The midfielder drilled a low shot past Brad Friedel into the corner of the net to give Rovers a deserved lead.
Villa defender Carlos Cuellar blocked a low shot from Keith Andrews before Villa forced Paul Robinson to make his first save of the game after 35 minutes.
Ashley Young curled in a trademark free-kick from 25 yards out which glanced off the head of Villa skipper Martin Laursen - but it flew straight at the former England number one.
James Milner produced his best play of the first half in turning in a tight situation and supplying a dangerous cross but Laursen could only glance his header past the far post.
Then on the stroke of half-time Luke Young brought Villa level with his first goal for the club since his £5million summer move from Middlesbrough.
Nicky Shorey clipped the ball into the box and the defender bundled the ball over the line at the second attempt after seeing his first attempt blocked.
Changes
O'Neill reacted after his side's limp first half display by bringing on John Carew for the second 45 minutes in place of Stilian Petrov.
But Brett Emerton came close to restoring Blackburn's lead with a powerful long range drive which curled only a yard wide.
Good skill from Villanueva played in Warnock although he was unable to repeat the accuracy of his first half effort as he dragged his shot across the face of goal.
But the home side have sufficient firepower even on an off night and in the 65th minute Barry put them ahead.
Milner was the creator after receiving a pass from Ashley Young and he held off the challenge of Andre Ooijer before cutting the ball across the box - and Barry did the rest with a simple tap-in.
It was the third game in a row that the 27-year-old had been on target for Villa.
Agbonlahor wrapped up the points with three minutes remaining when he converted a pass from Ashley Young.
Emerton's free-kick goal came too late to give Villa any real concerns over the outcome.
| Aston Villa |
Team Statistics |
Blackburn Rovers |
| 3 |
Goals |
2 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 4 |
Corners |
5 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
20 |
| 7 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 65.4 |
Passing Success |
75.4 |
| 27 |
Tackles |
32 |
| 85.2 |
Tackles Success |
87.5 |
| 41.6 |
Possession |
58.4 |
| 49.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.2 |
|
