Four changes for Villa
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill made four changes to the side which drew against Everton at Ewood Park.
Craig Gardner and Shaun Maloney came in for the injured duo of Ashley Young and John Carew, while in addition Martin Laursen and Patrik Berger were preferred to Gary Cahill and Gavin McCann.
O’Neill was looking for a boost with his side too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes recalled David Bentley after suspension in the only change to the side which lost to Manchester United. David Dunn had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Mokoena, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, McCarthy, Derbyshire. Subs: Brown, Nonda, Henchoz, Dunn, Roberts.
Aston Villa: Sorensen, Bardsley, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Maloney, Agbonlahor, Berger. Subs: Taylor, McCann, Davis, Hughes, Moore.
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
