Blackburn are celebrating their first away Premiership win of the campaign
after gaining a shock success over John Gregory's title-chasing side at Villa
Park.
Rovers had gained only four points from their previous 11 matches away from
Ewood Park but two goals in two minutes from Ashley Ward and David Dunn
maintained their revival under new manager Brian Kidd.
Villa must be sick of the sight of Rovers who won 4-0 in the corresponding
clash last season and have now scored 14 goals in the last four meetings with
the Midlands club.
Rovers were under the cosh territorially for long periods, but Villa seldom
looked like breaking down a well-organised defence in which Darren Peacock and
Marlon Broomes were outstanding.
Villa lacked the creativity in midfield needed to prise open Kidd's side who,
on this evidence, will soon climb well clear of the relegation zone.
Even with several players missing, Rovers still had the fire-power in the form
of Matt Jansen, Ashley Ward and Chris Sutton to constantly trouble Villa on the
counterattack.
John Gregory's side missed the aerial power of central defender Ugo Ehiogu who
will be out for a month with a fractured eye socket.
The Villa chief, having been foiled in his bid to sign Juninho and declaring
no interest in Tim Sherwood, has to inject new blood urgently into his decimated
squad before the title slips beyond them.
Villa were the first to settle with fit-again Dion Dublin and Julian Joachim
linking up well in attack.
But, for all the home side's territorial dominance, they struggled to create
any clear openings, and Blackburn 'keeper John Filan was not seriously tested
until the 22nd minute.
Then the former Coventry man did well to deny Joachim with his feet after a
delightful flick from Ian Taylor had given the Villa striker a clear sight of
goal.
Filan then clung onto a long-range effort from Paul Merson who volleyed over
at the far post after a flick on from Dublin.
But the Villa fans were stunned into silence in the 32nd minute thanks to
Gareth Southgate's unintended helping hand for the visitors.
Michael Oakes had started to come out for a right-wing cross from Dunn, but
Southgate tried to intercept and only succeeded in sending a powerful header
into his own net.
Villa tried to retaliate, and Rovers defender Marlon Broomes blocked a fierce
goal-bound effort from ex-Ewood Park player Alan Wright.
In the 49th minute, Dublin clipped the crossbar with a half-volley after
Watson's initial shot had been blocked by Marlon Broomes.
But Blackburn took a firm grip on proceedings with two goals in two minutes
from Ward and Dunn.
Sutton set up the crucial second in the 62nd minute when he broke down the
left flank and held off the challenge of Riccardo Scimeca.
His low centre landed invitingly in the path of Ward who crashed home his
first goal since his £4.5million move from Barnsley.
Two minutes later, the game looked effectively over as Blackburn struck again
with another move stemming from the left flank.
This time, Jansen supplied the cross, and although Gareth Barry headed
half-clear, Dunn was on hand to hammer home a close-range volley.
Villa tried to retaliate and in the 69th minute, they gave themselves a ray of
hope when Joachim took a flick from Dublin into his stride and gave Filan no
chance with an arrow-like drive from just inside the area.
Filan did well to block a close-range header from Dublin following a centre
from Barry, while Simon Grayson headed over.
But it was too little too late, and now Gregory is facing up to his biggest
test since taking over from Brian Little 12 months ago.
Teams:
Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Grayson, Southgate,
Barry (Thompson 78), Watson, Taylor, Merson, Scimeca, Dublin,
Joachim.
Subs Not Used: Vassell, Standing, Enckelman, Samuel.
Goals: Joachim 69.
Blackburn: Filan, Davidson, McAteer, Peacock, Broomes, Wilcox,
Dunn, Jansen (Duff 81), McKinlay, Ward, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Davies, Croft, Flowers, Dailly.
Goals: Southgate 32 og, Ward 62, Dunn 64.
Att: 37,404
Ref: K Burge (Tonypandy).
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