Villa 2-0 Blackburn

[villafan306]

Another home game and another routine 3 points for the Villa boys.

To say that Blackburn weren't at the races would be something of an understatement. However, it still wasn't easy to break down a team who made their name last season from miserly defending and a hard hitting midfield.

Speaking of a hard hitting midfield, Gavin McCann was back with a bang today replacing young Issah Osbourne. Chris Sutton made his first start for Villa replacing Milan Baros and Martin Laursen came in to replca Liam Ridgewell.

The game started slowly with Villa's tactic being hit the long ball to Sutton and Blackburn's tactic being smack the ball up the other end of the pitch and hope for the best.

It wasn't until we started playing the ball along the deck that we started to look dangerous. Blackburn's midfield lacked strength without Robbie Savage and Petrov and McCann combined slowly took control of the game.

Petrov put Sutton clear with 5 minutes remaining of the first half and an attempted cross hit the arm of Ooijer and the referee's assistant awarded the penalty. In truth, whilst it did hit the defender's arm, it was not intentional but we had enough of those given against us last season to warrant a few lucky breaks this season.

Gareth Barry confidently stepped up and chipped the ball straight down the middle, beating Friedel who had dived to his left. This sparked a new life into Villa and it was only some last gasp defending that managed to keep Blackburn only one goal behind us at half time.

The second half began with Blackburn ttacking, but that didn't last long. Just five minutes into the second half Juan Pablo Angel pounced on a defnsive error from Khizanishvili and slotted the ball home.

We really should have won by more, every time we crossed the halfway line Blackburn looked nervous and every time they crossed the halfway line our back four looked confident and assured. Mellberg and Laursen both had great games and I think they were having a competition on who could get the most diving headers in the game!

Back to winning ways then ahead of Wednesday's trip to Chelsea. It was a much better performance than either of the previous two home games and more of the same will see us give the chapions some food for though in the League Cup tie this week.

[PeteStan]

Not a classic by any means, but 3 pts and 6th place can't be too bad after last seasons dross.

Plenty of effort being put in now. JPA ran for everything and poor Chris Sutton, who showed a lot of classy touches, looked absolutely shot at the end.

Laursen, again in an occasional appearance, looked different class at the back. Great to have Gavin Mccann back, we look so much more competetive when he plays even if his distribution can sometimes let him down.

Next two Premiership matches are away. Wouldn't it be nice to get that first ellusive away win now?

Anyway well done lads I thought it was a good effort. A pity the ridiculously changing kick off times meant that more couldn't be there to cheer you on!