Aston Villa 2 Blackburn 1 - Report

Analysis

Sam Gallagher's opener for the visitors had set the hosts on course for a first defeat under Steve Bruce.

But Kodjia hauled them level when he fired home from the spot after Jack Grealish had been fouled.

The Ivory Coast international then bagged a superb winner as Villa made it 11 points from their last five games since Bruce took charge.

For much of the afternoon it looked as though the new manager's honeymoon was coming to an end as Villa huffed and puffed before Rovers took the lead.

Yet ultimately they ended up with another win, one which ended a number of unwanted statistics.

This was the first time Villa had come from behind to win since the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool and the first time in the league since December 2014. It was also the first time they had won back-to-back games at Villa Park since May last year.

The recall of both Ross McCormack and Grealish to the starting line-up, the latter after serving a three-game ban, hinted at a more attacking approach as Bruce opted to remove a midfielder, with Ashley Westwood dropping to the bench.

Yet it was an approach which failed to bring rewards, at least in the first half, as Villa struggled and were indebted to goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini for staying on level terms. The Italian's one-handed stop to keep out Sam Gallagher's header was the biggest talking point of the opening 45 minutes, while he also had to tip over a rasping Ben Marshall free-kick.

At the other end, Rovers keeper Jason Steele's most notable action was keeping out a vicious strike from Jonathan Kodjia.

Villa just weren't clicking though, ironically, they improved at the start of the second half before falling behind when Gallagher headed home Conway's cross with Gollini rooted to the spot.

The visitors lead lasted less than three minutes, however, with Grealish, a peripheral figure until that point, playing a key role. The attacker's trickery proved too much for Greer who brought him down in the box, with Kodjia stepping up to convert the spot-kick.

It was all Villa after that, though for a while they seemed determined to waste every chance which came their way, with Ross McCormack shooting wide from six yards out.

Ultimately it was a moment of brilliance from Kodjia which proved the difference. The striker showed awareness, pace, power and precision as he burst onto Mile Jedinak's pass before sliding his finish under Steele.

Key moments

5 - An early chance for Villa. Albert Adomah's corner misses a host of players in the box and the ball falls nicely for Gary Gardner at the far post. But he slices his shot well wide.

20 - Blackburn are growing in confidence and only a fine one-handed save by Pierluigi Gollini prevents Sam Gallagher from putting the visitors ahead.

22 - Rovers keeper Jason Steele is called into his first serious action of the game, beating away a dipping Jonathan Kodjia strike.

23 - The game is warming up as Gollini is needed again to deny the visitors, this time the keeper tipping over Ben Marshall's free-kick.

35 - Villa are playing in fits and spurts. Kodjia volleys an Adomah corner over the bar from ten yards out.

42 - McCormack finds an opening as he meets a superb Adomah cross but his header lacks power and is held by Steele.

54 - GOAL - Sam Gallagher heads home from Conway's cross with Gollini rooted to the spot.

57 - GOAL - Villa back on level terms. Grealish is fouled by Greer and Kodjia steps up to beat Steele from the spot.

61 - Steele tips a fierce long-range effort from Gary Gardner round the post.

65 - Villa again go close to taking the lead. McCormack latches onto Hutton's through ball but pulls his finish inches wide of the post.

70 - GOAL - Villa lead thanks to a superb goal from Kodjia, who bursts in from the left wing to meet a Jedinak pass and then slides a finish under Steele.

Position in the table

14th, up one.

Teams

Villa (4-2-3-1) Gollini, Hutton, Chester ©, Baker, Amavi, Jedinak, Gardner, Adomah, Grealish (Elphick 90), Kodjia (Westwood 70), McCormack (Agbonlahor 68) Subs not used: Cissokho, Tshibola, Gestede, Bunn (gk).

Blackburn (4-4-2): Steele, Lowe ©, Greer, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Marshall, Evans, Guthrie (Akpan 78), Conway (Feeney 66), Gallagher, Emnes (Graham 31) Subs not used: Byrne, Samuelson, Bennett, Raya (gk).

Goal: Gallagher 54.