STAN COLLYMORE is back but so, emphatically, are Blackburn Rovers.

Before an expectant audience at Villa Park Wednesday night. Collymore returned to the club he loved as a boy but the more significant memories were jogged by Rovers, who gave a performance straight out of their championship year.

Collymore ran hard throughout but received little service.

Blackburn, running eagerly for each other. proved a far more formidable force, breaking quickly from midfield for Chris Sutton to score a hat-trick, the result embellished by Stuart Ripley's second-half strike. One had to feel for Collymore.

At least the Villa fans had almost 20 minutes of hope of Collymore looking lively behind Dwight Yorke and Savo Milosevic.

The prodigal son of Stone struck a low free-kick gathered by John Filan. Milosevic was then denied a certain headed goal by Filan's feet after Yorke had again found space behind a full-back.

Suddenly, it was like watching Blackburn in their championship year. Only four regulars from that 94-95 success started - Sutton, Colin Hendry, Jason Wilcox and Stuart Ripley but the style was familiar feverish work-rate, rock-like defending around the inspirational Hendry and relentless surges down the flanks. It was no coincidence that Blackburn looked so exciting with Wilcox and Ripley charging down the flanks.