Aston Villa moved a step closer to Wembley on Thursday as they saw off Blackburn 1-0 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
Rovers have it all to do in the second leg after Ewood Park setback
Aston Villa moved a step closer to Wembley on Thursday as they saw off Blackburn 1-0 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
James Milner proved to be the hero for Martin O'Neill's men as his first-half effort separated the sides at Ewood Park.
Rovers carved open the first opportunity of the night, when David Dunn spun inside the box and drilled narrowly past the post, but they created little during the opening 45 minutes.
Villa, meanwhile, were causing plenty of problems on the break and were full value for their lead when they broke the deadlock after 23 minutes.
Milner fed Stewart Downing on the right and carried on his run to meet a low cross and guide the ball into the bottom corner past a stranded Paul Robinson.
The visitors continued to look more likely to add to the scoring after that and felt they were denied a stonewall penalty when Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was booked for diving, tumbled under a clumsy challenge from Chris Samba.
Rovers regrouped after the interval, though, and came within inches of forcing an equaliser when Nikola Kalinic saw a glancing header cannon back off a post.
The Croatian was proving to be a real handful, and he struck the woodwork again shortly after the hour mark with a stinging drive, but there would be no way through for Sam Allardyce's side.
Dominated
Villa dominated the first half and the only surprise was that they did not hold more than a one-goal advantage at the break.
Blackburn were left chasing shadows after almost taking the lead in the third minute.
Dunn turned quickly and fired in a shot that took a slight deflection and finished narrowly wide.
But that was as good as it got for Blackburn in the first 45 minutes with Villa quickly stepping up the pace.
Ashley Young sent his effort wide of the target in the tenth minute after a one-two from a short corner with Milner.
The visitors kept up the pressure and Ryan Nelsen blocked a shot from Emile Heskey after Stiliyan Petrov had sprung the offside trap.
Then Agbonlahor sent a shot into Robinson's arms before they took the lead in the 23rd minute.
It followed a stunning counter attack that took Blackburn by surprise.
Galloped
Milner galloped over the halfway line, released Downing and continued his run unhindered.
Downing then played in a perfect ball and Milner took full advantage for his seventh goal of a fine season and one that he hopes ends with the World Cup in South Africa.
Agbonlahor was then booked for simulation in the 40th minute following a challenge by Samba just inside in the penalty area.
Villa boss O'Neill displayed a look of disbelief at the decision by referee Mark Clattenburg - and he was not the only one.
Blackburn again found themselves on the back foot in first half stoppage time and Petrov came close to adding a second.
The Bulgarian got goal-side of Samba but goalkeeper Robinson reacted superbly to parry his effort.
Villa continued where they left off at the start of the second half and Milner tested Robinson in the 46th minute.
Power
There was no let up for Blackburn and Young's cross came off Heskey's shin four minutes and went narrowly wide.
However, the balance of power suddenly shifted with a header from Kalinic coming back off the post following a cross from Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Dunn then scuffed a shot wide in the 59th minute after being set up by Pascal Chimbonda.
However, Kalinic was again cursing his luck six minutes later when his shot came back off the woodwork after he was set up by Chimbonda.
Back came Villa and Young sent his effort across the face of the goal before Brett Emerton forced Brad Guzan to claw his effort around the post.
Agbonlahor almost added a second for Villa on the stroke of full time after he had been set up by Young but Robinson managed to get a hand to it.
There was one final twist in the game with Steven N'Zonzi heading over a corner from Dunn and that summed up Blackburn's night.
They have not won now in nine games after beating Chelsea in the quarter-final and need to turn things around quickly if their season is not to implode.
| Blackburn Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Aston Villa |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
7 |
| 9 |
Corners |
14 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
7 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 65.1 |
Passing Success |
68.2 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 68.8 |
Tackles Success |
85.7 |
| 48.3 |
Possession |
51.7 |
| 53.7 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.3 |
|
