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Aston Villa 1-0 Blackburn: Darren Bent on target as new signing Shay Given denies former club in Hong Kong
Alex McLeish's side supplied the clinical touch as both teams impressed in what became an end-to-end contest in the national stadium
By Richard Parry
Getty
Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in Hong Kong, after an entertaining workout, with Darren Bent bagging the game's only goal.
Alex McLeish, overseeing Aston Villa for the first time against Premier League opposition, will have been encouraged by his side’s start to match, as the midfield trio of Barry Bannan, Jean Makoun and Stiliyan Petrov looked to orchestrate the proceedings.
Nonetheless, it was Rovers who mustered the first clear chance of the match. A knock-down from Jason Roberts arrived at the feet of January signing Mauro Formica, but his driven effort merely stung the palms of new Villa keeper Shay Given.
And Steve Kean’s side would go close again minutes later, as David Dunn unleashed a thunderous drive from distance which rose narrowly over Given’s crossbar.
As Rovers turned the screw, Villa looked to hit them on the counterattack. Having broke down the left flank with Gabby Agbonlahor, the ball drifted right to Bannan, and the young Scot’s whipped in delivery required Gael Givet to divert to safety on the stretch.
The Frenchman found himself in the wars again at the close of the half, after a heavy collision with Darren Bent left the defender pole-axed in the centre circle.
As the sides returned after the interval, McLeish’s side were again quickest to assert themselves on the match, and this time made the breakthrough.
Bannan, continuing to cause havoc down the right flank – having been found by Emile Heskey – curled in a dangerous delivery which Bent did well to latch onto, before diverting the ball past Paul Robinson with a deft finish.
And if the their record signing had shown his quality, Villa’s new addition between the sticks quickly followed up with an impressive stop. The move started with a marauding rampage from the in-demand Chris Samba, as the Congolese stopper tore through the Villa midfield. He played the ball right to the feet of Brett Emerton, and the Australian cut inside before curling an effort towards the far post, only to be denied by Given’s superb agility.
Emerton was denied again 10 minutes later, when Stephen Warnock slid in to intercept the ball after the midfielder had been played through by Roberts.
Having refrained from changes during the interval, McLeish was first to reshuffle his pack at the midpoint of the half, as Fabian Delph replaced Makoun while Agbonlahor made way for Nathan Delfouneso.
As the game wore on, Villa pushed for a second. After linking up with Bent, Heskey attempted to slot the ball past Robinson but again McLeish’s side were denied by the impressive Givet.
But in stoppage time, it was Robinson who would deny Villa from doubling their lead. Albrighton, who replaced Bannan at the midpoint of the half, burst through on goal before hitting a dipping effort on goal, but the former England No.1 was equal to it.
With less than two minutes remaining on the clock, the competative nature of the two teams threatened to spill over as both sets of players scuffled in the middle of the park, following a heavy challenge.
Starting XIs
Aston Villa: Given; Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Bannan, Petrov, Makoun; Heskey, Bent, Agbonlahor.
Blackburn: Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson; Emerton, Dunn, Formica, N'Zonzi, Pedersen; Roberts.
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Alex McLeish, overseeing Aston Villa for the first time against Premier League opposition, will have been encouraged by his side’s start to match, as the midfield trio of Barry Bannan, Jean Makoun and Stiliyan Petrov looked to orchestrate the proceedings.
Nonetheless, it was Rovers who mustered the first clear chance of the match. A knock-down from Jason Roberts arrived at the feet of January signing Mauro Formica, but his driven effort merely stung the palms of new Villa keeper Shay Given.
And Steve Kean’s side would go close again minutes later, as David Dunn unleashed a thunderous drive from distance which rose narrowly over Given’s crossbar.
As Rovers turned the screw, Villa looked to hit them on the counterattack. Having broke down the left flank with Gabby Agbonlahor, the ball drifted right to Bannan, and the young Scot’s whipped in delivery required Gael Givet to divert to safety on the stretch.
The Frenchman found himself in the wars again at the close of the half, after a heavy collision with Darren Bent left the defender pole-axed in the centre circle.
As the sides returned after the interval, McLeish’s side were again quickest to assert themselves on the match, and this time made the breakthrough.
Bannan, continuing to cause havoc down the right flank – having been found by Emile Heskey – curled in a dangerous delivery which Bent did well to latch onto, before diverting the ball past Paul Robinson with a deft finish.
And if the their record signing had shown his quality, Villa’s new addition between the sticks quickly followed up with an impressive stop. The move started with a marauding rampage from the in-demand Chris Samba, as the Congolese stopper tore through the Villa midfield. He played the ball right to the feet of Brett Emerton, and the Australian cut inside before curling an effort towards the far post, only to be denied by Given’s superb agility.
Emerton was denied again 10 minutes later, when Stephen Warnock slid in to intercept the ball after the midfielder had been played through by Roberts.
Having refrained from changes during the interval, McLeish was first to reshuffle his pack at the midpoint of the half, as Fabian Delph replaced Makoun while Agbonlahor made way for Nathan Delfouneso.
As the game wore on, Villa pushed for a second. After linking up with Bent, Heskey attempted to slot the ball past Robinson but again McLeish’s side were denied by the impressive Givet.
But in stoppage time, it was Robinson who would deny Villa from doubling their lead. Albrighton, who replaced Bannan at the midpoint of the half, burst through on goal before hitting a dipping effort on goal, but the former England No.1 was equal to it.
With less than two minutes remaining on the clock, the competative nature of the two teams threatened to spill over as both sets of players scuffled in the middle of the park, following a heavy challenge.
Starting XIs
Aston Villa: Given; Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Bannan, Petrov, Makoun; Heskey, Bent, Agbonlahor.
Blackburn: Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson; Emerton, Dunn, Formica, N'Zonzi, Pedersen; Roberts.
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Results
Times In BST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 1 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 0 |
|
Heiðar Helguson
Striker QPR |
5 | 0 |
|
Jason Roberts
Striker Blackburn |
4 | 1 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
4 | 0 |
