Dean Smith: The first half was the best Aston Villa have played since my arrival

With England boss Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, Tammy Abraham’s 22nd goal of the season put Villa on course for victory during an opening period when they produced some of their best football of the season to date.

Tyrone Mings doubled the advantage just past the hour mark, before Amari’i Bell pulled one back for Rovers to set up a nervy finish.

Smith said: “I thought the first-half was as good as we’ve played since I’ve been here.

“We’ve beaten Derby County 4-0 and up by that score at half-time - but some of our passages of play and movement on the ball and off it was outstanding.

“I knew the way that Blackburn play, so I knew it would be tough. We should have had a three or four goal lead by half-time.

“Then it was an even second half. We looked a real threat on the counter. They probably had more possession than we would have liked.

“When we got the second goal, I think we felt that it was job done and we got a little bit loose on the ball.

“We never passed it well enough in the last 20 minutes, that’s for sure. But for all of the possession we allowed them, they never created too much and I thought our structure defensively was good. We stopped crosses and made it hard for them.”

Southgate’s presence gave Jack Grealish a chance to impress but the playmaker was outshone in the middle of the park by John McGinn.

The Scot showed no signs of suffering a hangover from a disappointing international break away with his international team, helping to create both of Villa’s goals.

McGinn was taken off during Scotland’s 3-0 Euro 2020 qualifying defeat in Kazakhstan, before being dropped entirely for their next game against San Marino.

“He was disappointed. You go and represent your country and get beaten 3-0 away from home,” said Smith.

“He was disappointed with his own performance and the fact they got beat there.

“The day he came back and started training, he hit a 40-yard diagonal and I said: ‘There you are, you are back.’

“A smile returned on his face. It didn’t take him very long. He is thick as thieves with Jack Grealish. They are very tight on the pitch, as well as on it.

Smith continued: “John will be slightly annoyed he gave the free-kick away for their goal.

“But his run in the 95th minute shows what he’s all about.

“He’s picked the ball up, ran past three players, gone across the pitch, ran into the corner and won it, just when it was needed to run the clock down.

“He’s a terrific player but I’ve got a group of terrific players. They’re a team rather than individuals.”