It has been Graeme Souness' non-stop lament this season that Blackburn have played too well to be in one of the relegation positions.

This display will only add to the bafflement as the Worthington Cup winners swept aside a lightweight Villa.

Inspired by a sparkling Damien Duff, who scored along with David Dunn and Andy Cole, Blackburn looked like the European challengers and Villa the relegation battlers.

Before the game, it was revealed Blackburn will offer Souness a new contract in the summer, whether or not the season ends in disaster and relegation.

As if buoyed by the news, Rovers went at Villa like greyhounds after hares from the first whistle.

Blackburn were hugely impressive in the first half, and few sides can have given Villa such a pounding over 45 minutes this season.

Despite this, there was still only a single goal separating the sides and half-time, due to a combination of the woodwork - struck three times - and Peter Schmeichel.

Villa were on the back foot from the off. Duff, impressive throughout, went on a penetrating run and won a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Hakan Unsal took the kick and Villa were fortunate the wall deflected his shot narrowly wide for a corner.

From the flag-kick, Villa were again fortunate to escape. The corner reached Dunn on the edge of the box, who played in a pass-cum-shot that Cole volleyed against the bar from close range.

It was third time lucky for Blackburn, however, when Dunn put them ahead in the seventh minute.

Hakan swept a crossfield pass out to the right, Dunn cut in past Jloyd Samuel and let fly with a sweetly-struck shot that rocketed past Peter Schmeichel, though the Dane will not be happy to have let in a goal at his near-post.

It was very nearly 2-0 when Duff found enough space to cross and Cole escaped his marker, but could not find enough power on the header to test his old team-mate Schmeichel.

In the 21st minute, Rovers were rescued by Brad Friedel after the defence went to sleep.

Samuel managed to cross from a tricky position on the left and Darius Vassell was completely unmarked in the six-yard box, but somehow Friedel reacted to palm away his first-time shot.

Dunn's exquisite lofted pass put Cole through one-on-one against Schmeichel, a situation the two players must have experienced numerous times in training at Manchester United.

It seemed as though Cole was going to get the better of the keeper but again he was denied by the woodwork, the ball striking a post this time, and when he set up Duff for a shot from the rebound Schmeichel had recovered his position to pull off a smart save.

Cole shot high over the bar after a good passing move instigated by Tugay, Matt Jansen tested Schmeichel with a low drive from 20 yards, before Blackburn again hit the woodwork.

Duff was the unlucky man on this occasion, his shot deflecting off Mark Delaney against the angle.

Villa, after surviving a period of intense pressure, forced Friedel into action when Hitzlsperger drove in a low free-kick, and the American did well to hold on to the shot.

Villa had been so outclassed that changes were vital, and Taylor replaced Hitzlsperger and Hadji with Paul Merson and Lee Hendrie at the break.

The changes gave the visitors more poise in midfield, but Blackburn continued their raids and Cole and Duff both threatened to increase the lead but were thwarted by last-ditch defending.

Villa had begun to match Blackburn for effort though, and George Boateng tried a volley from 25 yards which Friedel saved comfortably.

A bit of Hendrie magic in the Blackburn box opened the home side up completely, but the midfielder elected to pass to Angel rather than shoot and the linesman's offside flag ended the move.

With five minutes left though Blackburn went 2-0 ahead when Garry Flitcroft picked up the scraps from Friedel's long punt and passed to Duff, who fired low across Schmeichel into the far corner.

In the last minute, Cole was given the satisfaction of putting one over on Schmeichel.

The keeper came out of his area and tried to control the ball with his head - but Cole stepped in and lobbed the Danish goalkeeper and Olof Mellberg to seal all three points.

Teams

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Berg, Johansson, Unsal (Taylor 57), Dunn, Tugay (Gillespie 65), Flitcroft, Duff, Cole, Jansen (Yordi 60).

Subs Not Used: Hignett, Miller.

Booked: Unsal.

Goals: Dunn 7, Duff 85, Cole 89.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Samuel, Barry, Boateng, Hitzlsperger (Hendrie 45), Hadji (Merson 45), Vassell, Angel (Balaban 72).

Subs Not Used: Kachloul, Enckelman.

Booked: Boateng, Delaney.

Att: 21,988

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).