Source: Telegraph
James Milner shines as Villa move into third
It was men against boys and the boys were too quick, too slick, too good. [LNB]Many have questioned Aston Villa's ability to stay the course in this marathon season, yet on the evidence of this performance they still have energy and endeavour to burn. [LNB]The 39th step of a campaign that began last July in the dubious guise of the Intertoto Cup served only to confirm the vitality and ambition of Martin O'Neill's team. [LNB]A club record seventh consecutive away win maintained their pursuit of Champion league qualification and condemned Blackburn to a first defeat in 10 matches under the guidance of Sam Allardyce. [LNB]Rovers' manager predicted this would be the sternest test so far in his quest to keep the club in the Premier League and Villa verified the wisdom of his judgment. [LNB]All around the pitch Villa were too athletic, assured and accomplished for Rovers. No-one exemplified their qualities more vividly and effectively than James Milner, a player who has already earned the admiration of England coach Fabio Capello. [LNB]Milner's goal, despatched with utter conviction, represented only the centrepiece of his display. The penetrating runs and crosses were a constant source of anxiety for Blackburn, but he still had the discipline and stamina to make a crucial clearance in his own six-yard box. The only stain on his contribution was an inexplicable miss, 13 minutes from the end. [LNB]Gabriel Agbonlahor, another livewire forward, underlined Villa's staying power with a second goal in stoppage time. [LNB]Blackburn have demonstrated an admirable resilience in recent weeks and they were aggrieved two strenuous penalty appeals which were rejected but they never seriously stretched their former goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, and will face their next league assignment with some trepidation. It will be at Old Trafford. [LNB]Allardyce still believes he has the attacking options - enhanced by the arrival of El Hadji Diouf and the repatriation of Roque Santa Cruz - to ensure survival but he was honest enough to concede this was a mission beyond their means. [LNB]He said: "Our problem was they were too good for us and we have to take that on the chin. We didn't really deserve anything and have to give Villa credit. They are good going forward and especially good when they haven't got the ball". [LNB]Emile Heskey had the ball in Blackburn's net only to be penalised but that was no more than a reprieve for Allardyce's side. Milner played a short corner to Gareth Barry, collected a return pass, drove unchallenged into the area and drilled an angled left-foot shot into the far corner. [LNB]Blackburn, bolstered by the belated introduction of Santa Cruz, threatened an equaliser and Villa might have been punished for Milner's uncharacteristic lapse. [LNB]O'Neill would probably have settled for the slender margin of victory at that stage, but Agbonlahor affirmed Villa's superiority with a helpful deflection of Ryan Nelsen. [LNB]O'Neill admitted he was mystified that Milner still wasn't in the full England squad but predicted the winger would be in Capello's selection for next year's World Cup finals. [LNB]The Villa manager said: "He's played thousands of times for the under-21s, more than he has for Villa. But there's a year-and-a-half to go before the finals and I'm sure he will be on the plane to South Africa." [LNB]O'Neill revealed that Heskey, who hobbled off with an Achilles tendon injury, was a major doubt for England's friendly against Spain in Seville on Wednesday.[LNB]
