Rovers breathe a sigh of relief as Gabriel Agbonlahor is flagged offside as he runs at goal.

There are four minutes of stoppage time now as Villa come forward and James Collins hits a shot which Paul Robinson gets down well to make the save.

David Dunn has an effort at goal from a Pascal Chimbonda throw which is blocked and Franco di Santo also has an effort blocked.

Carlos Cuellar puts a ball into the centre but Ashley Young cannot get near it as Christopher Samba outjumps him to clear.

Brett Emerton fires in a shot from distance which Brad Friedel does well to parry behind for a corner to Rovers. The ball comes in and the fans shout for a penalty after James Milner looks to push Franco di Santo.

Ashley Young crashes into David Dunn and the Rovers fans are fuming as he is not booked.

Another offside flag is raised against Rovers as they look to break when possible.

James Milner tries his luck and his effort almost lands at the feet of John Carew but the big striker failed to stick a leg out to divert it into the net.

David Dunn picks out Franco di Santo in the centre but the youngster moved back into the centre as the ball is crossed and it drops out for a goal kick.

Keith Andrews is allowed to go on a run a goal by Villa defenders but his effort fails to trouble Brad Friedel who had run outside of his area to clear a ball and give the Irishman a scent of goal in the first place.

The corner is played in and not cleared well by Rovers as Ashley Young sees an effort go wide of the mark.

Lars Jacobsen gets up to head behind for a corner under pressure from Emile Heskey with his shouts for a foul going ignored.

Rovers will possibly look to try and keep a point from this game as Villa are enjoying more possession.

Brett Emerton does well to cut out an attempted cross into the Rovers area from John Carew to James Milner as Villa are stretching the hosts with their extra man.

Villa struggle to clear the free kick in from Vince Grella and Rovers fans appeal for handball against Richard Dunne but nothing is given.

Franco Di Santo gets down to the right byline but the ball just rolls out as he crosses and it is a Villa goal-kick.

James Milner floats the free kick into the area and Gabriel Agbonlahor puts his effort over and is down along with Christopher with an injury in the box with an ankle knock.

David Dunn runs through and is nudged as he shapes up for a shot which does not result in a free kick he wants.

The free kick is finally played in but Rovers cannot get a shot on target as the ball is deflected out fior a corner.

Pascal Chimbonda does well to intercept a cross into the Rovers area and David Dunn completes the clearance.

The ball from the free kick is cleared by Villa but an attempt to get David Dunn in on goal sees the offside flag raised.

Franco di Santo is creating plenty of problems for Villa's defence as he wins a free kick off James Collins.

James Milner gets forward and puts a cross in towards Gabriel Agbonlahor but Paul Robinson comes out to gather.

El Hadji Diouf puts the ball in but Stephen Warnock gets it clear as Blackburn are doing all the pressing. Another ball back in sees Franco di Santo head the ball down in the area but none of his team-mates gambled on him winning it.

Rovers are pressing here as El Hadji Diouf puts a ball back into the middle but Franco di Santo cannot get his header on target.

John Carew concedes a late corner here for Rovers to take. David Dunn puts the ball in but it drops straight out for a goal kick.

Stephen Warnock puts the ball out for athrow as Rovers press forward through Steven N'Zonzi in the late stages of the half.

David Dunn puts in an outswinging corner but Steven N'Zonzi cannot get his head to the ball and Villa clear.

James Milner gets in the area and instead of trying to seek out Ashley Young in the middle he shoots from a tight angle and Paul Robinson makes the save.

The pace of the game has dropped off in the past few minutes as we are approaching the half time interval.

Lars Jacobsen gets in down the right of the box. He crosses but Carlos Cuellar heads clear under heavy pressure from Franco Di Santo

Rovers go so close to going in front here as David Dunn attempts an acrobatic overhead effort which has former Rovers keeper Brad Friedel doing well to tip the ball over from point-blank range.

Another free kick for Villa and once again the delivery from Ashley Young is disappointing as Paul Robinson makes the catch.

A free kick for Villa now but Ashley Young wastes the chance to set up a striker as he over-hits the kick.

Lars Jacobsen crosses from the right towards Christopher Samba in the box but his header is poor and drops wide of the goal.

Villa come forward now and Ashley Young tries a shot from the left side of the area but his effort flashes across the goal face and behind..

Rovers come searching for a second and win a corner which Morten Gamst Pedersen takes but it is a poor delivery and Villa clear at the near post.

John Carew appeals for a penalty as he looks like he is held in the area when going for an Ashley Young cross but nothing is given.

Ryan Nelsen punts the ball forwards from a free kick towards Christopher Samba but Villa partially clear before El Hadji Diouf is penalised for an infringement on Stephen Warnock.

Morten Gamst Pedersen tries to release Vince Grella down the middle but overhits his pass and Brad Friedel is out quickly to gather.

A chance for Villa from a free kick here as Fabian Delph takes it but it hits the wall and goes out for a throw in on the right.

Villa are pressing forward again as James Milner crosses from 30 yards on the right but he overhits the kick and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

John Carew crosses from the right but Christopher Samba heads out in the box as Villa do some more pressing after a few minutes of home pressure.

Christopher Samba hits the free-kick but his low effort is wide of Brad Friedel's right post.

James Collins gives away a dangerous free kick around 30 yards from goal to give Rovers another chance of equalising.

Another chance for Rovers as a free kick is cleared to Franco Di Santo in the box. He unleashes a shot from 12 yards but Fabian Delph gets in a vital block.

It's a dream start for Villa and another goal for Gabriel Agbonlahor and Rovers are already up against it in the early stages.

Rovers almost get one back immediately but Morten Gamst Pedersen's shot outside the box is just wide of Brad Friedel's right post

Christopher Samba punts a long ball forward but the ref blows for a foul by Franco Di Santo on James Collins in the box