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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Villa Park
  • Attendance: 31010
  • Referee: Clattenburg, M

Live Commentary

90mins

Villa pick up their first win of the season thanks to debutant Baros' well-taken goal after just 11 minutes

90mins

Baros' debut goal after just 11 minutes is enough for Villa to secure a deserved win over Blackburn.

90mins

Baros is booked though for diving in the area much to his displeasure

90mins

The game enters injury time with Villa still in front with that early Baros goal

87mins

Kuqi goes close twice as Mark Hughes' side search for a late equaliser

84mins

Phillips strikes the post as Villa nearly make it 2-0

82mins

Blackburn appear to have run out of ideas now as Villa close in on the win

81mins

Emerton is replaced by Jemal Johnson for Rovers

78mins

Pedersen's vicious corner is cleared at the near post by Jlloyd Samuel

77mins

Villa have withheld the pressure from Blackburn and now are threatening themselves again as they search for a second that would kill Rovers off

73mins

Berger curls a free-kick from the left but it flies just over the bar

69mins

Patrik Berger comes on for Villa with Whittingham making way

67mins

Blackburn force another corner but still are yet to find a way past Sorensen

65mins

Rovers have forced a succession of corners with Robbie Savage trying to drive them forward

61mins

Flitcroft comes off for the second sub of the game as he is replaced by Matt Jansen

57mins

Blackburn have certainly been better in the second half so far but have yet to register as Villa still lead thanks to Baros' first-half strike

56mins

Matteo is then immediately replaced by Vratislav Gresko

56mins

Matteo is also booked for dissent

54mins

Shefki Kuqi misdirects his shot on goal when well placed on the edge of the area as Rovers hit back again

52mins

Nelson receives the second booking of the game

50mins

Villa almost make it 2-0 but Ridgewell's header comes back off the post

49mins

Brett Emerton's cross is met by Garry Flitcroft but his shot is just wide

47mins

Blackburn appear to have a good telling-off at half-time because they have started much better in the second period

45mins

The second period begins with Rovers hoping for much better this half

45mins

Villa are in front at the break thanks to Baros' 11th-minute strike but it could have been worse for Rovers as the home side have also missed several good chances

41mins

Baros has yet another effort but his header is off-target

40mins

Nelsen fouls Jlloyd Samuel as the home side continue to frustrate the visitors

37mins

Blackburn will be looking for a big improvement in the second half because the first half has been dire from the visitors

33mins

Whittingham is playing well too and he fires a volley over as Villa continue to look for a second

31mins

Ryan Nelson appears to pull back Whittingham in the area but the referee says no penalty

28mins

Blackburn manage to force a corner that is taken by Pedersen but it's claimed well by Thomas Sorensen in the Villa goal

25mins

Blackburn have been poor so far and have yet to fire an effort on the Villa goal in the opening 25 minutes

22mins

Baros is causing the Rovers' defence all sorts of problems as this time his acrobatic effort is just off-target

19mins

Olof Mellberg is booked after a nasty challenge on Morten Gamst Pedersen

17mins

Baros tries his luck again from just inside the area but this time Friedel is equal to it

15mins

Morten Gamst Pedersen brings down Aaron Hughes with a clumsy challenge

14mins

Villa fully deserve their early lead after beginning strongly this afternoon

11mins

Baros puts Villa ahead just 11 minutes into his debut with a neat finish after good work from strike-partner Kevin Phillips

8mins

Milan Baros has made a lively start on his debut and has received a good reception from the Villa fans

5mins

Peter Whittingham's free-kick is deflected wide as the home side continue to make all the early running at Villa Park

3mins

Gareth Barry tries to chip the ball over Brad Friedel but Dominic Matteo comes to the rescue for Rovers as Villa make a bright start

2mins

Liam Ridgewell's header is goalwards but does not trouble Brad Friedel in the end

0mins

The action gets underway at Villa Park in what is a slightly overcast Birmingham afternoon

Match Report

David O'Leary's persistence to capture Milan Baros from Liverpool in a £6.5million deal paid off handsomely with an early dividend.

The Czech international injected some much needed pace and tenacity into the Villa attack and quickly impressed with his eye for goal.

Baros was on the mark as early as the 10th minute and even he would admit that with a little more luck he may easily have achieved a first-half hat-trick.

Villa were generally the more impressive and there was definitely a much-needed improvement in their play with Baros as the front runner, after he displaced the out of form Juan Pablo Angel.

Andy Todd and Ryan Nelsen were often at full stretch attempting to contain the livewire Czech and as a result, Blackburn were rarely a threat until the closing stages.

It was therefore something of a surprise that Villa were unable to capitalise on the early goal, as Blackburn failed to get into contention in the first half, when Thomas Sorensen had his quietest 45 minutes of the season.

Baros was always the main attraction for the Villa Park faithful and his persistent attacking play promised a rich haul of goals and sent the fans home happy.

He made a story book start with his first goal in Villa's colours in the 10th minute, demonstrating the kind of finishing prowess that has been lacking in the side for several seasons.

Peter Whittingham and Kevin Phillips combined to set-up Baros and the fleet footed Czech gave a foretaste of what to expect as he cut back inside Todd and placed a low shot beyond Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Following the goal Villa were on a high and the new man continued to enjoy the limelight when he was prevented from scoring a second by the outstretched boot of Friedel.

Nothing was seen of Blackburn's attack and manager Mark Hughes was obviously concerned by his side's lack of penetration.

Robbie Savage, who had never previously been on a losing side against Villa in 17 games, was often outgunned by the ruthless Gavin McCann.

Tugay, the engine room of Blackburn's performances, was also out of tune in the early stages, but later improved to give the Lancastrians fresh heart as Villa struggled to take full advantage of their early success.

Baros, however, was a constant danger and went close with a glancing header which could have sealed the game.

Early in the second half a header from Liam Ridgewell following a McCann free-kick hit the post, with Blackburn hanging on grimly.

Hughes rang the changes in the second half with Vratislav Gresko, Jemal Johnson and Matt Jansen introduced, but Villa held out to for a vital three points.

However, they made hard work of their task as Steven Davis demonstrated in the closing stages. Baros, exploiting his pace, made a clear run to set up Davis, only for the young Irishman to slam his effort against the post.

Man of the Match: Milan Baros

Villa's big-money new signing won the game with his early strike and gave an all-round debut display that sent the Villa fans home with high hopes for the future. David O'Leary will be hoping to see plenty more performances of this level this season.

Aston Villa Team

Blackburn Rovers Team

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Corners

411

Fouls

1317

Goal attempts

109

Shots off target

57

Offsides

52

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