Premier League: Aston Villa 2 Blackburn 1

Aston Villa enjoyed their first home game of the season with a convincing 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Gabriel Agbanlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent ensured that Alex McLeish won his first competitive match at Villa Park since his controversial move from Birmingham City.

Blackburn, whose goal came from Morten Gamst Pedersen early in the second half, continued their poor start to the season with the pressure mounting on boss Steve Kean.

Aston Villa created the first opening through Gabriel Agbonlahor on the 10 minute mark when he used his pace to get past Michel Salgado to cross towards Darren Bent, but Ryan Nelsen cleared for a corner. From the corner, a scramble in the area lead to Richard Dunne volleying high over the bar.

However, Villa did not have to wait long for their opening goal, with Agbonlahor putting them ahead on 12 minutes.

Agbonlahor received the ball from Darren Bent on the right, cut inside past Salgado and curled it beautifully past Paul Robinson to give Villa the lead and open his account for the season.

Villa seemed to grow in confidence after the goal, with the home fans starting to enjoy what they were seeing.

Blackburn had their best chance of the half when David Goodwillie, making his first start since his 2.8-million-pound move from Dundee United, went close on the 19th minute as he picked up a David Hoilett cross and hit a thumping strike which went just over the bar.

Villa were still the dominant though and doubled their lead in the 25th minute.

Fabian Delph picked out Agbonlahor who was able to slide the ball across the box and despite falling over, Heskey produced a low shot past the helpless Robinson.

It was Heskey’s 110th Premier League goal and Villa fans will be hoping for more of the same from the former Wigan man.

Blackburn looked continually fragile at the back without the influential Christopher Samba, who is still sidelined through injury, and had to contend with wave after wave of Villa attacks.

Rovers needed to start the second half with a goal to get back in the game and that is just what they did on 51 minutes.

Hoilett was able to move freely down the left before crossing for Pedersen to nod in from close range past Shay Given.

But Villa restored their two-goal lead shortly after, with Bent finishing off from close range after Greg Hanley could only parry Stiliyan Petrov’s long range effort.