Rovers Close Gap On Spurs

Rovers edged three points closer to a Champions League place with a lucky victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Thanks to goals from Craig Bellamy and Andy Todd, Blackburn have now moved to within three points of Spurs following their defeat at Chelsea.

Villa who were chasing their ninth straight away game without defeat started the better and could have been ahead after just 25 seconds. Gareth Barry ran onto a through ball by Aaron Hughes but after rounding Friedel he could only shoot into the side netting.

The visitors continued to test a nervy looking Blackburn defence with Milan Baros and Barry forcing Friedel to make some good saves.

However, Rovers came out in the second half in a more determined fashion as they chased their fourth straight home win. Four minutes into the half Morten Gamst Pedersen swung a corner into the penalty box which Bellamy headed forward. Sorensen failed to claim the ball on the line allowing Todd to tap Rovers into a 1-0 lead.

Feeling aggrieved at being a goal down Villa came back but lacked that finishing touch. Baros went closest to getting an equaliser but was first denied by Friedel when through on goal and then moments later he headed over after Davis had done well to find him with an overhead cross.

They were made to pay for their missed chances as mid-way through the second half Pedersen latched onto a Sinama-Pongolle pass and forced a good save out of Sorensen. However the Danish keeper couldn’t hold onto the ball and Bellamy slotted in number two. It was three fortunate points for Rovers but points which may yet prove very valuable in the race for fourth spot.