Alex McLeish was able to savour the applause of the
Aston Villa faithful at the end of a convincing first
home victory as manager.
Goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren
Bent also gave McLeish his first Barclays Premier League
win over a fellow Scot in charge at his 12th attempt.
For opposite number in Blackburn's Steve Kean, it has
been an eight days to the start of the season to forget,
with back-to-back losses sandwiching a court appearance
in which he was banned from driving for 18 months for
drink driving.
If McLeish had harboured any quiet concern deep inside
as to the kind of reception he might receive, that was
dispelled as soon as he made his way out of the tunnel
and set foot on the touchline.
The vitriol and animosity that had greeted McLeish's
appointment two months ago was a thing of the past as
time had clearly proven a great healer to the Villa
fans.
Forgetting his prior allegiance to Birmingham, a club
he guided to Carling Cup success and relegation from
the Barclays Premier League last season, the greeting
afforded to McLeish was positive.
The applause was certainly long and warm as he made
his way to his dugout shortly before kick off, and again
when his name was aired over the public address system
shortly after.
What followed was as comfortable a performance as he
could have wished for as Villa strolled into a 2-0 lead
by the interval.
It was nothing more than they deserved as Blackburn
were a team bizarrely lacking drive and purpose given
it is so early into the season.
The opener, however, was special, coming after a quiet
11 minutes in which neither side had gained a foothold.
The departure of Ashley Young to Manchester United
has been a hole McLeish has so far been unable to fill.
However, he may not need to if Agbonlahor continues
to display the quality he produced throughout the opening
45 minutes, and in particular for the first goal.
Attacking from Young's old left-wing position, Agbonlahor
cut his way into the area before delivering a stunning
curled strike from 15 yards beyond Paul Robinson's flailing
grasp into the top left-hand corner.
Midway through the half Agbonlahor, who only scored
five goals last season, almost doubled his and Villa's
tally.
In attempting an audacious effort from 30 yards, Robinson
needed to be at his best to claw the ball out of the
air that was again destined for the top left of his
net.
The former England goalkeeper, though, was beaten again
soon after, with Agbonlahor the supplier in teeing up
Heskey in the 25th minute.
From inside the D, Heskey's edge-of-the-area shot made
its way beyond Robinson, ending a 13-game drought for
the striker stretching back to January 2.
Heskey should have made it 3-0 in the 34th minute,
but despite a clear sight of goal after receiving a
pass into his feet from Darren Bent, his first touch
was hideous, allowing returning captain Ryan Nelsen
to clear.
In reply, Rovers barely figured but for one 12-yard
drive from new striker David Goodwillie, signed from
Dundee United in the summer, that was fired over the
angle of the woodwork.
After a virtual no-show in the first half, the goal
that gave them a lifeline in the 52nd minute was a bolt
from the blue, but classy nonetheless.
Neat footwork from Junior Hoilett down the left wing
saw him evade two tackles, carving out a position from
which he delivered a piercing cross.
Stealing in between centre backs Richard Dunne and
James Collins, Morten Gamst Pedersen planted a powerful
header past home debut goalkeeper Shay Given from six
yards.
For a period that followed Villa appeared to lose their
way, in particular as they had lost Agbonlahor at the
break to a knock sustained before the interval.
McLeish was also forced to make two further changes
due to injuries to Luke Young and Heskey, but any concerns
as to a Rovers fightback were eased midway through the
half when the two-goal cushion was restored.
After young defender Grant Hanley had blocked a speculative
shot from captain Stiliyan Petrov, Bent was quick to
seize on the loose ball before delivering a clinical
finish beyond Robinson to seal the three points.
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