New Club Record as Aston Villa Win 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers

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With their 2-0 win at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers, the team that looks very likely to claim a UEFA Champions League spot for next season have broken a club record.

Goals from James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor meant Aston Villa came away with all three points at Ewood Park, and also meant they have now won a club-record seven consecutive away games.

Throughout the match, Villa were rather impressive, and when Milner opened the scoring with a curling effort on 27 minutes, it seemed inevitable to be the first of many for the Villans.

However, Martin O'Neill's side wasted countless opportunities, most notably with new signing Emile Heskey missing the target on two occassions, both with close-range headers.

Blackburn Rovers themselves had numerous opportunities to capitalise on the wastefulness of their opponents, but they themselves were even more toothless in front of goal.

Villa though, had to show why they are capable of a top four finish, and finally put away an opportunity in the 90th minute, with Gabriel Agbonlahor sealing a club-record seventh consecutive away win to push his side above a lacklustre Chelsea side and up into third in the Premier League table.

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Martin O'Neill hailed his 'developing' Aston Villa side after they rose to third in the table with success at Blackburn Rovers.

O'Neill was full of praise for his side after the game, although he did admit to his concern before Agbonlahor finally wrapped up the match in injury-time.

He said: "It could have been more comfortable. We had a number of great chances to put the game beyond their reach, before we eventually did so.

"Those were worrying moments when you don't take the chances. We created a lot of chances today, especially considering we were away from home.

"But we have been playing strongly. There is good drive and determination among the team and I was absolutely delighted when we scored the late second goal.

"I was expecting a really difficult game. A lot of Blackburn Rovers' attacks started but then maybe failed about 15 to 20 yards from goal."

The victory secured a club-record seventh successive away league win, and O'Neill praised their impressive form on the road.

He added: "What the record tells me is an awful a lot about the team. I think the performances of the team have been fantastic. A lot of the players are playing very, very well at the moment.

"There is a lot of determination and energy. I am delighted with 51 points on the board, which is fantastic for us. We have got to try and keep the momentum going, which is going to be really difficult."

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce conceded Aston Villa claimed a deserved success against his side at Ewood Park.

The Rovers boss said: "I don't really have any complaints. I don't think we can say that we really deserved anything out of the game. I thought Villa were the better side.

"In the first half we lost to a super, super strike from James Milner. You only have to switch off for a minute against Villa.

"The second half was a little more disappointing than the first. We lost our passing. We never put enough pressure on Villa's back four.

"And finally in the end they got the second goal. There was still four minutes to go and we were going to throw caution to the wind.

"But they popped up with that goal and that finally killed us off, unfortunately. I don't think too much went for us today. We are obviously disappointed.

"We put all the effort in that we can, but it wasn't good enough today. Villa, for the first time in my games since I have been there, were the much better side."

quotes: www.skysports.com