Tim Sherwood put a dent in Aston Villa's title aspirations with the winner
three minutes from the end of the game.
Captain Sherwood struck in the 87th minute to stretch Rovers' unbeaten run to
four games after Riccardo Scimeca had equalised late on for Villa.
Kevin Gallacher had given the home side the lead with just seconds of the
first period remaining but a blistering Scimeca strike 10 minutes from time
looked to have sent Villa back to the top of the table.
However Sherwood latched on to Kevin Davies' flick and held off the challenge
of Gareth Southgate before slotting home to give new boss Brian Kidd three vital
points.
The game had threatened to be overshadowed by the controversial decision of
referee Dermot Gallagher to dismiss Villa goalkeeper Michael Oakes in the 54th
minute for handling outside of the area.
After enjoying vast amounts of early possession, Rovers finally produced a
strike on goal in the 23rd minute when Chris Sutton headed goalwards from Keith
Gillespie's free-kick but Michael Oakes brilliantly pushed the ball away.
Then nine minutes later, Oakes denied Gillespie a perfect home debut when he
turned away the Northern Irish international's brilliantly executed right-foot
strike.
Gallacher should have given the home side the lead after just three minutes
but thundered over after turning Scimeca in the area.
Two minutes later, Gallacher became the architect but his through-ball to
Jason Wilcox was too strong after a neat one-two between the two men split the
Villa defence.
Dion Dublin attempted to silence those in the Ewood Park crowd who booed his
every move following his decision to join Villa instead of Rovers with a
13th-minute drive but his effort flew wide.
But it was at the other end of the field where the main action was taking
place as Rovers, revived under new boss Brian Kidd, fought back strongly.
A Gillespie free-kick found the head of Sutton but Oakes stretched out his
left hand to deny the former Norwich striker.
Again the inspired Oakes proved just how difficult Mark Bosnich will find it
to get back in the first team with a magnificent save from Gillespie in the 33rd
minute.
Tim Sherwood played the former Newcastle winger in on the edge of the area.
But a deft piece of skill by the Blackburn new boy gave himself space in the
area.
He curled a shot around the Villa defence with the outside of his right boot
but Oakes reached to his right to turn the ball away.
But then Gallacher struck to offer Rovers more hope in their fight to climb
the table.
An outswinging Jason Wilcox corner was met by the head of Sutton before
Sherwood crashed the ball against the Villa crossbar.
But as Villa attempted to clear, the Scottish international threw himself at
the ball to score from a yard out.
Play settled in the second period, until referee Gallagher adjudged Oakes to
have handled after consulting his linesman.
After nine second half minutes, Christian Dailly played a ball over the top of
the Villa defence.
Oakes came to collect but took the ball outside of the area. Television
replays indicated that he immediately dropped the ball as he moved out of the
area. But Gallagher was having none of that and produced a red card.
Villa manager John Gregory threw on substitute keeper Adam Rachel as a
replacement in place of Hendrie and instead of letting their heads drop, the
Midlanders fought back in style.
Stan Collymore headed down a high ball in the Blackburn area and Scimeca
scored a blistering equaliser for the visitors with just 10 minutes remaining.
But with just three minutes left, Rovers added the final twist in the tale. A
long ball by Wilcox was flicked back by substitute Kevin Davies and Sherwood
collected the ball 10 yards out before charging in on goal and slipping the ball
past Rachel.
Teams:
Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Davidson, Sherwood,
Henchoz (Broomes 45), Gallacher (Duff 74), Sutton (Davies 66),
Wilcox, McKinlay, Dailly, Gillespie.
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Fettis.
Booked: Davidson, Broomes, Wilcox, Davies.
Goals: Gallacher 44, Sherwood 88.
Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Watson,
Taylor (Collymore 69), Thompson, Joachim (Grayson 83), Dublin,
Hendrie (Rachel 57), Scimeca.
Subs Not Used: Charles, Draper.
Sent Off: Oakes (56).
Booked: Scimeca.
Goals: Scimeca 81.
Att: 27,536
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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