Blackburn hosted Aston Villa in the first leg of the League Cup Semi-Final tonight. Villa have form on their side and certainly seem to be the better side this season but Blackburn would be fighting for the upper hand in this game – their sights on the Wembley Final.
Aston Villa started the better side and looked far slicker than a capable looking Blackburn side. The claret and blues of Aston Villa created more chances early on and took the lead on twenty-three minutes. Hitting Blackburn on a fast counter attack, Milner picked up inside his own half and burst clear, he passed to Downing out wide before making a run inside the box, Downing sent a controlled one-touch pass into the box and Milner pounced to slide the ball into the net for the opening goal.
On half time a whipped corner from Aston Villa was attacked and looked close to crossing the line before being cleared away. The referee immediately gave a free-kick to Blackburn for handball, but it soon became evident that the handball offense was committed by Blackburn defender Samba, and therefore should have been a penalty.
Both sides came out after the break with goals in mind and Blackburn came the closest on fifty-five minutes when Kalinic out-jumped the defense to head a cross from Pedersen against the upright. Gaining a great deal of confidence from this Blackburn continued to press before Kalinic struck the same post again ten minutes later with a curled shot from fifteen yards.
Aston Villa came back and came close with Dunne, Young and Milner all trying to end this tie in the first leg. Agbonlahor came very close with one minute left to play but his header from an Ashely Young free-kick was saved well by Guzan.
This game ended 0-1 and Blackburn will now have to try to turn this game around in a tough second leg match at Villa Park.
