Blackburn 2 - 0 Aston Villa

Morten Gamst Pedersen scored twice as Blackburn defeated Aston Villa at Ewood Park in front of the club's new owners Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao.

Pedersen struck with a free-kick from a tight angle that Brad Friedel should have saved and later diverted a low strike from Ryan Nelsen into the net.

Paul Robinson made good stops from Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, who also headed against the crossbar.

Robert Pires made his debut for Villa as a second-half substitute.

 But Rovers led 2-0 by that stage as Villa's five-match unbeaten run came to an end.