1:01PM BST 27 Jul 2011
Darren Bent struck to earn new Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish a pre-season victory over fellow Premier League side Blackburn Rovers. The ?24 million striker's goal was a typical close-range, predatory effort.
The result means that Villa will now go forward to the final of the four-team Barclays Asia Trophy where, on Saturday, they will play the winners of the other tie between Chelsea and the Hong Kong champions Kitchee.
Villa looked the stronger side but Blackburn can count themselves unfortunate having also created chances although they have to strengthen for the forthcoming season.
It was a competitive match - and was marred a little at the end by a confrontation involving several players who had to be pulled apart as Blackburn pushed for an equaliser.
For all Villa's early dominance of possession it was Blackburn who worked the first two meaningful opportunities with first Mauro Formica's drive being beaten away by Shay Given and then Richard Dunne backing off David Dunn, allowing the midfielder to send in a shot that cleared the bar. Soon after and, for Villa, Bent twisted to head over.
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Source: Telegraph
Source: Telegraph