Aston Villa 3 - 1 Blackburn
Emile Heskey celebrates after scoring Aston Villa's equaliser
Gerard Houllier made a winning start as Aston Villa manager as his side fought back to beat Blackburn and reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
Gael Givet put Rovers ahead with a fierce drive from the edge of the area.
After struggling to respond, the home side improved after the break and Emile Heskey levelled with a cross-shot within seconds of coming off the bench.
Ashley Young met Nathan Delfouneso's cross to make it 2-1 and quickly added a third goal after Heskey's solo run.
Houllier will want to forget a first half that saw his side struggle to settle and Gabriel Agbonlahor limp off after half-an-hour.
Soon afterwards, Givet gave Rovers the lead with a stunning strike - smashing the ball into the corner of the net after Ciaran Clark had half-cleared Morten Gamst Pedersen's throw.
Pedersen came close to doubling his side's lead after the interval, when his curling effort was pushed away by Brad Guzan.
Villa changed their formation at the break but the game turned on the introduction of Heskey on 58 minutes, with the man that Houllier signed for Liverpool a decade ago making an instant impact.
Young set Heskey free and he took two touches on the left-hand side of the area before burying a low drive in the opposite corner of the net.
By now Villa were well on top and Barry Bannan saw his shot saved by Mark Bunn before Carlos Cuellar headed wide from a Young corner.
Houllier's side kept coming forward and edged ahead after 76 minutes when Delfouneso crossed for Young to head home.
And it was Young who capped a fine performance by sealing victory seconds later, when he met Heskey's cross from close range.
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier:
"I know what Emile can do. He showed a few things in training to indicate he was in good form.
"He was decisive. With Emile, it's a matter of confidence. It's the same with all strikers but probably more so with him. He knows I like him - I signed him for Liverpool.
"John Carew probably tired out the Blackburn defenders. Emile came on and was showing freshness, scored one goal and played a part in the other two."
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"We've gone in front in six games out of seven and haven't been able to hold onto things.
"A game lasts 90 minutes, not 45 and it's frustrating for us. We couldn't cope with Villa's change in shape.
"We must be more resilient defensively and just keep working away at things."
Live text and stats
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Carling Cup
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 3-1 | Blackburn | FT |
| (HT 0-1) | |||
|
| ||
Aston Villa
- 22 Guzan
- 03 Warnock
- 21 Clark (Davies 76)
- 24 Cuellar
- 30 Lichaj
- 04 Sidwell
- 07 A Young
- 20 Reo-Coker
- 25 Bannan
- 10 Carew (Heskey 58)
- 11 Agbonlahor (Delfouneso 31)
Substitutes
Blackburn
- 13 Bunn
- 03 Olsson
- 05 Givet
- 06 Nelsen (Samba 66)
- 28 Jones
- 39 Chimbonda
- 07 Emerton
- 12 Pedersen
- 15 Nzonzi
- 21 Mwaruwari (Diouf 62)
- 23 Hoilett (Kalinic 78)
Substitutes
Ref: FoyAtt: 18,753
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+3:16The final whistle is blown by the referee.
- 90:00+2:51Header on goal by Steven Nzonzi from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
- 90:00+2:26Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Delfouneso on Martin Olsson. Morten Gamst Pedersen takes the direct free kick.
- 90:00+1:41Centre by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
- 90:00+0:52Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Morten Gamst Pedersen, brilliant save by Bradley Guzan.
- 88:42The official flags Mame Diouf offside. Indirect free kick taken by Bradley Guzan.
- 87:21Centre by Barry Bannan, Christopher Samba manages to make a clearance.
- 86:49Short corner worked by Ashley Young.
- 86:11The ball is swung over by Eric Lichaj, Barry Bannan takes a shot. Blocked by Christopher Samba.
- 83:11The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Bradley Guzan.
- 81:30Shot by Nathan Delfouneso from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
- 80:42Curtis Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Nikola Kalinic. The ball is delivered by Morten Gamst Pedersen, Nikola Kalinic takes a shot. Save by Bradley Guzan.
- 79:48Ashley Young produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
- 79:20Short corner worked by Ashley Young.
- 78:32Effort by Phil Jones from a long way out goes over the target.
- 78:04The ball is sent over by Nikola Kalinic, Carlos Cuellar makes a clearance.
- 77:40 SubstitutionDavid Hoilett leaves the field to be replaced by Nikola Kalinic.
- 76:31Assist by Emile Heskey.
- 76:31 GOAL - Ashley YoungAston Villa 3 - 1 BlackburnAshley Young finds the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn.
- 75:52 SubstitutionCurtis Davies on for Ciaran Clark.
- 74:54The assist for the goal came from Nathan Delfouneso.
- 74:54 GOAL - Ashley YoungAston Villa 2 - 1 BlackburnAshley Young grabs a headed goal from close range. Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn.
- 74:36A cross is delivered by Emile Heskey, clearance made by Christopher Samba.
- 73:45David Hoilett is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Bradley Guzan.
- 70:27Corner taken left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen from the right by-line to the near post, Christopher Samba takes a shot. Save made by Bradley Guzan.
- 68:56Unfair challenge on Nathan Delfouneso by Martin Olsson results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Barry Bannan, clearance by Christopher Samba.
- 67:12Ashley Young is adjudged to have handled the ball. Mark Bunn takes the free kick.
- 66:35The offside flag is raised against David Hoilett. Free kick taken by Carlos Cuellar.
- 65:34 SubstitutionRyan Nelsen leaves the field to be replaced by Christopher Samba.
- 64:51Ashley Young takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Headed effort from inside the area by Carlos Cuellar misses to the left of the target.
- 64:33Barry Bannan takes a shot. Save by Mark Bunn.
- 62:57Steve Sidwell takes a shot from 35 yards and went wide right of the goal.
- 61:32 SubstitutionBenjani Mwaruwari goes off and Mame Diouf comes on.
- 61:14Barry Bannan has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
- 58:46Assist by Ashley Young.
- 58:46 GOAL - Emile HeskeyAston Villa 1 - 1 BlackburnEmile Heskey finds the net with a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aston Villa 1-1 Blackburn.
- 57:38Ryan Nelsen restarts play with the free kick.
- 57:38 SubstitutionEmile Heskey on for John Carew.
- 57:38The assistant referee signals for offside against Ashley Young.
- 56:24Shot on goal by Eric Lichaj from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
- 55:16Ashley Young takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Brett Emerton.
- 55:06Corner taken short by Barry Bannan.
- 54:28Corner from the right by-line taken by Ashley Young, Pascal Chimbonda manages to make a clearance.
- 53:37Morten Gamst Pedersen produces a cross, save by Bradley Guzan.
- 52:51The referee blows for offside against Brett Emerton. Indirect free kick taken by Ciaran Clark.
- 50:38Morten Gamst Pedersen takes a shot. Save by Bradley Guzan.
- 49:05Corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen from the left by-line, clearance by Ciaran Clark.
- 47:59Barry Bannan sends in a cross, clearance made by Ryan Nelsen.
- 45:32The referee blows for offside against Benjani Mwaruwari. Ciaran Clark takes the indirect free kick.
- 45:01The referee starts the second half.
- Half Time
- 45:00+1:17The referee calls an end to the first half.
- 45:00+0:01Unfair challenge on John Carew by Ryan Nelsen results in a free kick. Ashley Young fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
- 43:57Centre by Morten Gamst Pedersen, Bradley Guzan makes a comfortable save.
- 43:25Steven Nzonzi fouled by Ashley Young, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Bunn.
- 42:12Corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen played to the near post, clearance made by Steve Sidwell.
- 39:28Martin Olsson challenges Nathan Delfouneso unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Barry Bannan from right channel, clearance by Steven Nzonzi.
- 38:24Effort from outside the area by Steven Nzonzi goes wide right of the goal.
- 37:39Martin Olsson delivers the ball, clearance made by Nigel Reo-Coker.
- 37:20Foul by Steve Sidwell on David Hoilett, free kick awarded. Morten Gamst Pedersen takes the direct free kick.
- 35:18Steve Sidwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Phil Jones. Free kick crossed left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen from right channel, Carlos Cuellar makes a clearance.
- 33:08 GOAL - Gael GivetAston Villa 0 - 1 BlackburnGael Givet finds the net with a goal from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aston Villa 0-1 Blackburn.
- 31:43Header on goal by John Carew from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
- 30:46 SubstitutionNathan Delfouneso on for Gabriel Agbonlahor.
- 30:21Gabriel Agbonlahor sends in a cross, Gael Givet manages to make a clearance.
- 22:36Unfair challenge on Stephen Warnock by Benjani Mwaruwari results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ciaran Clark.
- 21:24Right-footed shot by Steve Sidwell went wide right of the target.
- 17:23John Carew concedes a free kick for a foul on Gael Givet. Free kick taken by Mark Bunn.
- 16:16The ball is crossed by Martin Olsson.
- 15:25Brett Emerton fouled by Ashley Young, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen, clearance made by Stephen Warnock.
- 14:41Phil Jones takes a shot. Save made by Bradley Guzan.
- 13:22Gael Givet has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.
- 12:59The ball is swung over by Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steve Sidwell manages to make a clearance.
- 11:43The official flags Pascal Chimbonda offside. Stephen Warnock takes the free kick.
- 10:07Ashley Young takes a shot. Save by Mark Bunn.
- 8:26Brett Emerton fouled by Stephen Warnock, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen from right wing, Bradley Guzan makes a comfortable save.
- 3:47Handball decision goes against Ryan Nelsen. Ashley Young takes the free kick.
- 2:03Ashley Young sends in a cross, John Carew takes a shot. Comfortable save by Mark Bunn.
- 1:22The ball is crossed by Brett Emerton.
