Ashley Young scored twice and set up another as he inspired Villa to an emphatic 4-1 win over Blackburn at Villa Park, writes Timothy Abraham.

See also: Saturday’s match action – in photos

Following a rusty first half the claret and blues came to life in the second half and a 49th-minute penalty from Young broke the deadlock after he was fouled by Keith Andrews.

Blackburn defender Grant Hanley then turned a Marc Albrighton cross past his own goalkeeper in the 62nd minute before Stewart Downing scored on the break two minutes later.

Nikola Kalinic pulled a goal back in the 81st minute with a deflected shot but Villa restored their three-goal cushion a minute later when Young notched his second of the afternoon.

After a scrappy start Darren Bent forced Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson to make a smart save in the 10th minute with a low shot after he was put through by Young.

Villa had a reasonable shout for a penalty in the 27th minute when Bent appeared to be clipped by Grant Hanley and went to ground but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the home side’s appeals.

Houllier was forced to replace Nathan Baker with Fabian Delph in the 36th minute after the defender was accidentally punched in the head by Rovers goalkeeper Robinson as he challenged for a Downing free-kick.

Villa continued to look the most likely team to score before the interval and neat build-up play involving Ciaran Clark and Young allowed Robert Pires to sting the fingers of Robinson with a shot from distance.

Bent then a had a great chance just before the interval when he latched on to a errant back-pass from Morten Gamst Pedersen but took too many touches and Ryan Nelsen was able to intercept and clear to safety.

Blackburn had their first meaningful effort straight after half-time when Richard Dunne’s poor touch allowed Jermaine Jones to break clear and Brad Friedel saved a powerful low drive with his legs.

It was the Villa, though, who took the lead four minutes after the interval after Young harried Andrews inside the Blackburn area and dispossessed him near the byline.

Just as Young was about to cross Andrews clumsily manhandled him to the ground and this time referee Atkinson showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Young dusted himself down and confidently sent Robinson the wrong way with a low effort into the bottom-left corner of the net to bring up Villa’s 500th Premier League goal.

Houllier’s side then doubled their advantage when a Young corner was picked up by Albrighton on the left flank and his cross deflected off the shin of Hanley and past Robinson.

Villa effectively made the points safe on the counter attack shortly afterwards when Pires released Young down the right flank and he beat Nelsen to the ball to send Downing clear.

The winger ran straight for goal and cut inside on to his left foot and then showed great composure to curl the ball past the outrushing Robinson from just inside the penalty area.

Blackburn pulled a goal back when Kalinic’s shot from distance deflected of Dunne and looped over Friedel but Villa added a fourth a minute later.

Downing broke free on the left flank and he rolled the ball across the box and Young emphatically smashed the ball home from near the penalty spot before Nelsen was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a foul on Young in the dying minutes.