• Date: Sat 26 January 2008
  • Venue: Villa Park
  • Ref: Webb, H
  • Attendance: 39,602
Aston Villa

Aston Villa

Young, A (73)

1 - 1
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Santa Cruz (68)

Aston Villa vs Blackburn Rovers

Team Lineups

Aston Villa

Scott Carson
Martin Laursen
Olof Mellberg
Wilfred Bouma
Curtis Davies
Gareth Barry
Nigel Reo-Coker
Stiliyan Petrov (Marlon Harewood, 60)
John Carew
Ashley Young, A
Gabriel Agbonlahor

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Christopher Samba
Stephen Warnock
Andre Ooijer
Steven Reid
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
David Dunn
Matt Derbyshire (Jason Roberts, 88)
Roque Santa Cruz


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's full time. The points have been shared in a 1-1 draw, Ashley Young equalising Roque Santa Cruz's opener.

89
Yellow Card
 

Steven Reid is the first player to go into the book.

88

Morten Gamst Pedersen tries his luck from distance but his drive is wide of the target.

86

Andre Ooijer goes close at the far post for Rovers from David Bentley's free kick.

84

Scott Carson collects the ball from Brett Emerton's cross.

82

Both teams are going all-out to win this game but are struggling to create further chances.

80

The second half has been much better entertainment than the first half.

78

Marlon Harewood's glancing header crashes against the woodwork.

75

Olof Mellberg clears Villa's lines from Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner.

73
Goal
 

It's 1-1. Ashley Young equalises for Villa, beating Brad Friedel with a curling free kick.

72

The game has become momentarily scrappy as both sides concede fouls.

70

Can Rovers build on their lead and take the points back to Ewood Park?

68
Goal
 

Rovers lead 1-0. Roque Santa Cruz opens the scoring, his shot into the ground bouncing over Martin Laursen.

66

David Dunn's close-range strike is parried by Scott Carson.

65

Marlon Harewood's 25-yard drilled effort is saved by Brad Friedel.

64

Ashley Young whips in a corner but Brad Friedel punches the ball away.

62

David Bentley swings in another free kick but Curtis Davies clears for Villa.

60
Substitution
 

Villa make a change, Marlon Harewood replacing Stiliyan Petrov .

57

Scott Carson is called into action to tip Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner over the cross-bar.

55

Wilfred Bouma crosses into the area but Brad Friedel leaps well to collect the ball.

53

David Dunn makes a great last-ditch tackle to halt Ashley Young's progress.

51

Ashley Young whips in a cross but he can't find a Villa shirt.

49

Villa are showing more urgency in this half.

47

Gareth Barry shows good footwork to get away from David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz.

Second half
 

Howard Webb gets the second half underway. The crowd will be hoping for more entertainment.

Half time
 

It's 0-0 at the break after a disppointing first half in terms of chances.

44

Ashley Young fizzes in a shot but Steven Reid gets the block in.

42

Villa are enjoying a good spell of possession without threatening the Rovers goal.

40

David Bentley curls in another free kick but Martin Laursen heads away.

38

Christopher Samba slices the ball wide in a rare moment of goalmouth action.

37

John Carew defends well again for Villa, clearing David Bentley's whipped free kick.

35

Gareth Barry plays in an early ball but Stephen Warnock heads away.

33

Ashley Young drives in a free kick but no Villa player can get a touch onto it.

31

Gareth Barry is pulled up for a foul on David Bentley.

29

Chances area at a premium in this game.

26

Matt Derbyshire looks to have picked of a knock.

24

Rovers are awarded a penalty for a Nigel Reo-Coker challenge but Scott Carson makes a stunning save from Matt Derbyshire's spot kick.

23

David Bentley's curling free kick is just ahead of Morten Gamst Pedersen.

21

Blackburn look well organised at the back. Villa are going to find it hard to break them down.

19

Roque Santa Cruz brings the ball well but can't find strike partner Matt Derbyshire with his pass.

17

Ashley Young's free kick flies straight into the hands of keeper Brad Friedel.

15

John Carew, on defensive duties, heads away from David Bentley's dangerous free kick.

13

Stiliyan Petrov bursts forwards but can't quite feed the ball to Gabriel Agbonlahor.

11

Matt Derbyshire completes the clearance for Rovers from a Villa free kick.

10

Christopher Samba gets the ball ahead of John Carew.

8

Rovers have made the brighter start to this game.

6

David Bentley's arrowed ball sets Matt Derbyshire free down the right but Wilfred Bouma covers well.

4

Martin Laursen makes a great tackle in the area to dispossess David Dunn.

2

It's a cagey start from both sides to this game.

Kickoff
 

Referee Howard Webb gets what is set to be a cracking game underway.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Scott Carson returns between the sticks for Villa.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Injury rules out Ryan Nelsen and veteran midfielder Tugay for Blackburn Rovers.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Gareth Barry has recovered from a pelvic injury and takes his place in the Villa starting line-up.