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Played
August 20, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Villa Park — Birmingham
Referee: S. Attwell
Attendance: 32319
August 20, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Villa Park — Birmingham
Referee: S. Attwell
Attendance: 32319
Top of the Match
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Aston Villa
Aston Villa
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Aston Villa
Aston Villa
Flop of the Match
Michel Salgado
Blackburn
Blackburn
Michel Salgado
Blackburn
Blackburn
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers: Agbonlahor, Heskey & Bent give Alex McLeish first win since taking charge
Villa continued its bright start to the season with a comfortable win over the Lancashire side, which has to spend before the end of the transfer window
By Kieran Crowley
Aston Villa enjoyed its first home game of the season with a convincing 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers that saw the Villans also score their first three goals of the season.
Gabriel Agbanlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent ensured that Alex McLeish won his first competitive match at Villa Park since his controversial move from Birmingham City. The result gives Aston Villa four points from its first two games following the team's scoreless draw at Fulham on the opening weekend.
Blackburn's goal came from Morten Gamst Pedersen early in the second half, but the northern side continued its poor start to the season with the pressure mounting on boss Steve Kean. Blackburn has already shipped five goals in its first two games following a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves, and might have to spend some money prior to the end of the transfer window if it wants to lift itself above a potential relegation battle.
Aston Villa took the initiative from the start, and although it was initially denied by former D.C. United man Ryan Nelsen, Agbonlahor found the breakthrough the home team was looking for in the 12th minute. He received the ball from Darren Bent on the right and cut inside past Salgado, curling it beautifully past Paul Robinson to give Villa the lead and open his account for the season.
Villa seemed to grow in confidence after the goal, with the home fans starting to enjoy what they were seeing. There was a break in play though on the 17th minute when Blackburn’s David Dunn appeared to stamp on Luke Young after a coming together. Referee Stuart Atwell took no action choosing to calm down the two players, but on another day, Dunn could have seen red.
Despite a brief scare engineered by new Blackburn signing David Goodwillie, Villa was still dominant though and doubled its lead in the 25th minute. Fabian Delph picked out Agbonlahor, who was able to slide the ball across the box. Despite falling over, Heskey produced a low shot past a helpless Robinson. That was Heskey’s 110th Premier League goal and Villa fans will be hoping for more of the same from the former Wigan man.
The absence through injury of Blackburn's top defender, Christopher Samba, was particularly glaring as Villa continued to bombard the Blackburn area with crosses, though Rovers were lucky none of them connected for a goal.
Rovers needed to start the second half with a goal to get back in the game and they did precisely that. On the 51th minute, David Hoilett was able to move freely down the left before crossing for Pedersen to nod in from close range past Shay Given.
However, the goal was to be just a small blip on the radar. Villa restored its two goal lead in the 68th minute as captain Stiliyan Petrov shot from distance. Greg Hanley was able to block the shot but it rebounded off him to Bent who made no mistake, smashing it past Robinson into the net.
This seemingly killed off Blackburn’s comeback as Kean could not conjure up any magic through his substitutes, meaning his team fell to its second straight defeat to open the season.
Gabriel Agbanlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent ensured that Alex McLeish won his first competitive match at Villa Park since his controversial move from Birmingham City. The result gives Aston Villa four points from its first two games following the team's scoreless draw at Fulham on the opening weekend.
Blackburn's goal came from Morten Gamst Pedersen early in the second half, but the northern side continued its poor start to the season with the pressure mounting on boss Steve Kean. Blackburn has already shipped five goals in its first two games following a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves, and might have to spend some money prior to the end of the transfer window if it wants to lift itself above a potential relegation battle.
Aston Villa took the initiative from the start, and although it was initially denied by former D.C. United man Ryan Nelsen, Agbonlahor found the breakthrough the home team was looking for in the 12th minute. He received the ball from Darren Bent on the right and cut inside past Salgado, curling it beautifully past Paul Robinson to give Villa the lead and open his account for the season.
Villa seemed to grow in confidence after the goal, with the home fans starting to enjoy what they were seeing. There was a break in play though on the 17th minute when Blackburn’s David Dunn appeared to stamp on Luke Young after a coming together. Referee Stuart Atwell took no action choosing to calm down the two players, but on another day, Dunn could have seen red.
Despite a brief scare engineered by new Blackburn signing David Goodwillie, Villa was still dominant though and doubled its lead in the 25th minute. Fabian Delph picked out Agbonlahor, who was able to slide the ball across the box. Despite falling over, Heskey produced a low shot past a helpless Robinson. That was Heskey’s 110th Premier League goal and Villa fans will be hoping for more of the same from the former Wigan man.
The absence through injury of Blackburn's top defender, Christopher Samba, was particularly glaring as Villa continued to bombard the Blackburn area with crosses, though Rovers were lucky none of them connected for a goal.
Rovers needed to start the second half with a goal to get back in the game and they did precisely that. On the 51th minute, David Hoilett was able to move freely down the left before crossing for Pedersen to nod in from close range past Shay Given.
However, the goal was to be just a small blip on the radar. Villa restored its two goal lead in the 68th minute as captain Stiliyan Petrov shot from distance. Greg Hanley was able to block the shot but it rebounded off him to Bent who made no mistake, smashing it past Robinson into the net.
This seemingly killed off Blackburn’s comeback as Kean could not conjure up any magic through his substitutes, meaning his team fell to its second straight defeat to open the season.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Man United |
27 | 6 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Man City |
23 | 3 |
|
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn Rovers |
17 | 4 |
|
Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |