Aston Villa 4 - 1 Blackburn

26/2/2011
Aston Villa v Blackburn
Villa Park
Premiership



Trio Shine as Villa net Four.

Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton took apart a lackluster Blackburn in a dominating second half performance, that optimised the phrase “a game of two halfs”


Villa, although not dominating in possession, had looked the better side in the opening 45, creating a handful of chances in the half's closing 10 minutes. Neither goalie had faced a real test until Robinson was called upon to deal with strikes from Walker and Pires and then bravely slapping the ball away from Bent's attempt to pounce on a lose ball.

The momentum Villa created at the end of the first half continued after the break, and early into the second period the home side got their reward. After losing the ball in his own area Ireland International Keith Andrews bundled down Ashley Young giving Mark Atkinson no option to point to the spot. Young stepped up and slotted home to the delight of the home fans.

Villa continued to pressures and after Blackburn failed remove the Claret and Blue side from their half, Marc Albrighton's low cross was turned in off the knee of Grant Hanley to double Villa's advantage.

A third came just minutes later when Young set Stuart Downing free down the right flank. Unchallenged the England midfielder drifted inside and cooly slotted past Robinson to lock up the three points for the Midlanders.

Villa's pressure was unrelenting as Albrighton, Young and Downing caused havoc down the channels with only poor finishing and a lack of service preventing them from pulling even further away.

Nikola Kalinic gave Blackburn hope with 10 minutes to go after his long range effort deflected off Dunne sending the ball over a helpless Friedel, but the visitors joy was short lived as Stuart Downing passed inside to a waiting Ashley Young who fired home to grab his second of the afternoon and restore Villa's sides three goal advantage.

Blackburn's afternoon finished in disaster as Ryan Nelson received a second yellow for pulling down Young on the edge of the box, and as the final whistle blew many of the visitors run to get down the tunnel and put this one behind them.

Villa leapfrog Blackburn in the table and move three points closer to securing safety, while Blackburn go to Fulham next week in another must win game.