blackburn rovers Archive

In a match which saw ten goals, looking more like a rugby score, I think it is fair to say I couldn’t go into a great deal of detail about each goal tonight as I quite simply can’t remember!

But the important thing is, Aston Villa will be playing in a cup final at Wembley next month – something I’ve been wanting to say for a long time now.

However, things didn’t look that way early in the first half as Kalinic, someone who couldn’t find the net in the last leg, couldn’t help but score this time around, firing home twice in the first half hour.

At that point, I’ll be honest – I thought we had messed everything up.

But it was hard strike on the six-yard line by former Blackburn player, Stephen Warnock which made us a bit more optimistic.

Things were even sweeter when Gabby Agbonlahor was brought down in the box resulting in being awarded a penalty kick and Samba being sent off. And before you ask, no doubts from me, it definitely was a correct decision.

James Milner didn’t fail to impress as he struck home a powerful penalty, despite Robinso diving the right way.

Just to keep you updated, at this point it was 2-2 and stayed that way until half time.

It was the second half that killed the game off and Blackburn’s sight of a cup final was becoming forever fainter, despite netting another two goals!

On the 52nd minute, an inswinging cross from Stewart Downing found the ball deflecting off the opposing players, with Steven Nzonzi being the unlucky one, ’scoring’ and own goal to put the Villa 3-2 up (4-2 on aggregate).

It was Agbonlahor next on the scoresheet, first blocking Milner’s shot but managing to find the net from inside the six-yard area.

Next, it was no other than Emile Heskey. Yes, you read it write, Heskey can score in a ten goal match! But credit when it’s due, Emile played very well tonight and took this finish very well, taking the ball round Paul Robinson to finish off Villa’s fith of the match.

And it didn’t stop there!

It was Blackburn’s turn this time, with unmarked Martin Olsson scoring a spectacular over-head volley leaving Brad Guzan with no chance.

We had to wait until the last 10 minutes for the next goal and it came from Rovers again. Brett Emerton this time with a shot just outside the box, finding the bottom corner of the net. And I was worried about where the next goal was going to come from!

But thankfully, it was Ashley Young who rounded off this thrilling match with a fantastic finish, bending it past Robinson.

To conclude this perculiar, but outstanding match, no player for Villa scored more than one goal.

These being Warnock, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Young and an Nzonzi own goal.

Goals from Kalinic (2), Ollson and Emerton wasn’t enough to send them through as the game finished at a staggering 6-4, surely one of the best semi-finals the competition has seen.

Despite conceding four goals at home, we can now officialy say the words that have been overdue at Villa Park:

‘We’re the famous Aston Villa and we’re going to Wembley!’