Aston Villa 3 Blackburn 2: ASTON VILLA'S greatest wish is to break into the Premier League elite but for now they might settle being the best of the rest.
A comfortable victory over a dogged Blackburn Rovers at Villa Park last night was confirmed by Gabriel Agbonlahor's goal three minutes from the end, the finale of a flowing move that was instigated by the impressive Ashley Young.
Brett Emerton's marvellous free-kick, curled into the top corner in injury-time failed to take the gloss of the win, Villa's third in six days that has raised expectations both in the West Midlands and on the European stage.
Villa resisted the temptation to restore John Carew to the starting line-up despite his influential contribution at Wigan on Sunday. The visitors, however, had no choice but to promote Benni McCarthy from the bench after Roque Santa Cruz suffered a calf injury in the pre-match warm-up.
The Paraguayan's loss proved to be Blackburn's gain, initially at least, as McCarthy proved himself a more than able replacement. Twice his control and awareness released colleagues but while Villa escaped the first time, they failed to heed the warning and were punished by Stephen Warnock.
Villa were unusually listless as they toiled to better a well marshalled Blackburn back four and it was McCarthy's touch to Keith Andrews that created the game's first opening after 14 minutes. Andrews picked his spot with a decent right-foot shot but was denied by the former Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
In a meandering affair it was not until the half hour that a tinge of excitement interrupted the malaise. Again McCarthy, with his back to goal, shielded the ball well and this time Warnock scored with a left-footed effort.
A Martin Laursen header, easily held by Paul Robinson, was the best Villa riposte until first-half stoppage time when they restored parity from a source as unlikely as the equaliser had seemed.
The ball drifted from one corner to the other over the Blackburn penalty area before Nicky Shorey's centre from the left was forced over the line at the second attempt by his full-back partner Luke Young, his first goal for the club.
The equaliser could not fail to lift Villa spirits as it did the tempo. Warnock and Emerton peppered shots wide of the mark but it was their opponents who made one count in the 64th minute.
James Milner eluded some sluggish marking and his pull back from the byline found Gareth Barry. The England man won a regional award for his sartorial elegance last week and he was smart enough to be in the right place for a routine finish.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's flashing volley, beaten away by Friedel at his near post, signalled intent but the home team looked the more menacing with Carew on as a substitute and adding his considerable height and weight to attack. And of course, the odd body swerve.
• Guardian Service
ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Shorey, Laursen, Cuellar, Barry, Milner, Petrov (Carew 46), Reo-Coker (Sidwell 83), Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Harewood 90). Subs not used: Guzan, Davies, Knight, Gardner.
BLACKBURN: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock (Kerimoglu 68), Emerton, Andrews, Simpson, Pedersen (Olsson 79), Villanueva, McCarthy (Derbyshire 79). Subs not used: Brown, Mokoena, Fowler, Roberts. Booked: Samba.
Referee: Keith Stroud(Hampshire).
