U21s: Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Aston Villa produced a strong performance to get the better of Blackburn Rovers in Premier League 2 at Bodymoor Heath on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Sam Proctor made a fine double save shortly before the hosts went ahead from the penalty spot after 26 minutes.

After Ben Broggio was felled in the box, Kane Taylor stepped up and stroked the ball past the visiting ‘keeper.

Scorer turned provider four minutes later when Taylor’s chipped cross was headed home by Kobei Moore to double the lead.

Rovers hit back just before half-time via Igor Tyjon but rarely threatened after the break as Villa held out to pick up three points.

Josep Gombau’s team had begun their league programme with one win, one draw and one defeat, and they started the match like a team who were determined to get back in the win column.

Just four minutes had been played when Travis Patterson skilfully opened up space for a shot in the box, beating the ‘keeper but seeing it cleared by a covering defender.

Rovers, who lost all three of their opening league matches, were on the back foot as the match settled into a rhythm, looking to hit the hosts on the counter-attack.

One of their fast breaks almost produced the opener of 22 minutes when Harry Leonard was denied by a fine save from Proctor, with the Villa ‘keeper also reacting quickly to smother the rebound.

Broggio injected life into his side when he burst in from the right-hand side and dribbled into the box, going down under pressure from a defender and winning his side a penalty.

Taylor stepped up to take the spot kick, burying a left-footed effort beyond the dive of Jack Barrett and inside the post.

One became two in a matter of minutes for the home side when Moore peeled off to the back post and headed home Taylor’s cross.

Blackburn pulled one back on the stroke of half-time thanks to Tyjon, who lashed home a loose ball in the penalty area.

The frame of the goal came to Rovers’ rescue at the start of the second half when Kerr Smith sent a shot crashing off a post following Todd Alcock’s flighted delivery.

Villa piled the pressure on in search of a third goal and saw Aidan Borland have an effort tipped over before Patterson once again had a shot cleared off the line by a defender.

Injuries on both sides disrupted the flow of the game, but the hosts remained in control as the match moved into the final ten minutes.

Blackburn upped the urgency in their play as they looked to find a way through Villa’s defences, but it was the Young Lions who looked more likely to score in the closing stages.

Patterson fired in a low effort that was kicked away by Barrett before the final whistle sounded to confirm their victory.