Matt Jansen scored his first goals since his life threatening motor-bike accident to power Blackburn Rovers into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Jansen has only just returned to action after the horrendous crash in the summer but he showed he had lost none of the skill which had earned him an England call-up at the tail-end of last season against Paraguay with a well executed double.

His chance of a first cap on that occasion was thwarted by a stomach illness although that paled into insignificance compared to the nightmare events of the close season.

But the Rovers fans were chanting for him to be given another chance by Sven-Goran Eriksson as he scored the first and then the crucial third goal to keep his side in the hunt for a cup double.

Then, as if to rub salt into Villa's wounds, it was their former old boy Dwight Yorke who scored the other two goals to silence the Holte End who had booed him every time he touched the ball.

Rovers were well worthy of their success - although they were given a helping hand by some ordinary Villa defending - and in midfield David Dunn was a constant menace with his probing runs.

While the future is looking full of optimism for Rovers, it leaves Villa with little to play for but Premiership respectability in the next four months.

Gareth Barry again impressed on the left side of midfield but once again Villa failed to make the most of the chances that came their way, particularly in the first half.

Manager Graham Taylor has no money to spend during the transfer window and he has taken the decision to give his promising crop of youngsters a chance in recent weeks.

He may now decide to expand further in that direction once Premiership safety for another season has been guaranteed.

Dunn quickly made his presence felt and he forced Villa 'keeper Stefan Postma to save away to his right after cutting in from the left flank.

At the other end Dion Dublin got on the end of a near post cross from Ulises de la Cruz but only succeeded in sending his volley over the bar.

Blackburn defender Martin Taylor twice got in important blocks to deny Lee Hendrie and Juan Pablo Angel before his side went ahead after 16 minutes.

A long clearance from Brad Friedel flew off the head of Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel when under pressure from Egil Ostenstad before bouncing over the head of Olof Mellberg into the path of Matt Jansen.

He found himself with a clear run at goal before drilling a low shot past Postma.

Jansen came close to adding to that tally shortly afterwards when Postma was forced to finger-tip away his curling drive at full stretch before again denying Dunn after another surging run.

But Villa started to come back into the game and Dion Dublin twice failed to hit the target when well placed.

His downward header from a Lee Hendrie free-kick went wide and then he stabbed the ball wide from six yards out after a cross from Gareth Barry had fallen just behind him.

But after 40 minutes Villa got back on level terms through Juan Pablo Angel's fortunate strike. Barry cut in from the left and his low drive beat the dive of Brad Friedel.

James McEveley was on hand to clear off the line but but the ball struck Angel and flew into the corner of the net.

The Colombian international almost struck again when he seized onto Dublin's pass and tested Friedel with a powerful drive.

But four minutes into the second half Yorke silenced the home fans as he restored Blackburn's advantage.

Postma did well to finger-tip away his initial header at full stretch following a teasing corner from Dunn.

But Yorke was first to react to the rebound and he could hardly disguise his delight in front of the Holte End after smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Then after 59 minutes Villa found themselves with a mountain to climb as Jansen struck for the second time.

Again there was a question mark over Villa's defending as Taylor headed an outswinging Dunn corner back across goal and Jensen was first to react as he headed home from close range.

Taylor responded with a double substitution, bringing on Darius Vassell and Ian Taylor in place of Angel and Mark Kinsella.

But after 71 minutes the game was killed off as a contest when Yorke gratefully accepted Dunn's pass in his stride and slotted his shot coolly past the exposed Postma.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Postma, Edwards (Ridgewell 69), Samuel, Mellberg, Wright, De la Cruz, Hendrie, Kinsella (Taylor 63), Barry, Angel (Vassell 63), Dublin.

Subs Not Used: Hitzlsperger, Henderson.

Goals: Angel 41.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Taylor, McEveley, Danns (Tugay 45), Flitcroft, Yorke (Douglas 74), Dunn, Ostenstad (Gillespie 45), Jansen.

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Johansson.

Goals: Jansen 17, Yorke 52, Jansen 60, Yorke 71.

Att: 23,884

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).