*Rovers rout Villa*

Dwight Yorke and Matt Jansen each scored twice as Blackburn Rovers routed disappointing Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Juan Pablo Angel’s fortuitous rebound had given Villa hope in the first half, cancelling out Jansen’s opener - the Blackburn man’s first goal since his summer motorbike accident.

But Rovers dominated after the break as Yorke silenced the boo-boys with a brace against his former club, either side of Jansen’s header, sending Blackburn into round four.

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness made four changes from the side which beat Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day, but his reshuffled team made an unconvincing start.

Although David Dunn forced a good early save from Villa keeper Stefan Postma, the home team began well.

Dion Dublin held his head in his hands after volleying Ulises de la Cruz’s penetrating cross over from just five yards on seven minutes.

Lee Hendrie and Angel both saw shots blocked as Villa turned up the pressure, but Blackburn took the lead on 17 minutes.

Jansen latched on to a loose long ball and rifled home in style from 18 yards - and he nearly added a second shortly afterwards, forcing a great save from the diving Postma.

Garry Flitcroft saw a powerful drive blocked, Neil Danns fired the rebound wide and Dunn forced another save as rejuvenated Blackburn took control.

For Villa, Dublin came close as he attempted to scoop Gareth Barry’s cross goalwards, but the ball drifted inches wide.

De la Cruz’s curling cross almost surprised Brad Friedel on 40 minutes, but the Blackburn keeper could do nothing to stop Angel’s equaliser one minute later.

Barry created the goal, cutting into the box and shooting low past Friedel.

McEveley cleared on the line, but hit the ball against Angel, who watched in delight as it rebounded into the net.

Friedel then saved brilliantly from Angel on the stroke of half-time.

Souness made a double substitution at the break, Tugay and Keith Gillespie coming on, and the fresh blood seemed to raise their
spirits.

Rovers regained their lead on 52 minutes, with Yorke hammering home the rebound after Postma had saved the former Villa man’s header.

And the visitors compounded Villa’s misery eight minutes later when Jansen headed home from six yards with the home team’s defence utterly static.

Barry nearly gave Villa a lifeline on 71 minutes, his jinking run and shot forcing a save from Friedel, and Dublin headed wide from the resulting corner.

But they were made to regret the missed chance seconds later as Yorke latched on to Dunn’s incisive pass and slid the ball home from 18 yards.

Blackburn sat back and Villa fashioned a host of half-chances late on - but the visitors’ defence was resolute and held firm.