*James Collins headed a late winner as Aston Villa recorded their first home win since August with a dramatic victory over a much-changed Blackpool.*

Stuart Downing put Villa ahead with a volley that deflected beyond Richard Kingson but Marlon Harewood levelled with a side-foot shot before the break.

Nathan Delfouneso volleyed Villa ahead again but Blackpool equalised when a DJ Campbell shot deflected in off Collins.

The defender made amends minutes later when he headed in from a corner.

The goal came as a cruel blow to a Blackpool side that featured 10 changes from the team that drew 2-2 against Everton on Saturday.

Six of those players, including skipper Jason Euell, were making their first Premier League starts this term.

Given that the Seasiders arrived at Villa Park in the best away form of any team in the top flight, the wholesale change seemed a curious move from Blackpool boss Ian Holloway.

And yet it was the visitors who made the livelier start, Villa old-boy Harewood spurning two early chances to score on his first return to Villa Park.

Ghana international goalkeeper Kingson was not idle at the other end, though, as Villa youngsters Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark both tested the Seasiders’ keeper early on.

But Kingson could not deny Downing after the Villa midfielder exchanged passes with Ashley Young before unleashing a vicious volley that took a deflection off defender Rob Edwards and flew into the visitors’ net.

The goal galvanised the home side and midfielder Albrighton almost made it 2-0 with a half-volley from close range but Kingson palmed the ball away.

Yet Blackpool had begun to gel despite the changes and the visitors showed they did not intend to give up their fine away record without a fight.

On the stroke of half-time, Harewood equalised after collecting a delicate backheel from the excellent Matt Phillips before settling himself and planting the ball into the far corner on the stroke of half-time.

Villa came out all guns blazing after the break and Blackpool were lucky to survive two early tests as Ashley Young tested Kingson with a well-struck volley and Collins headed goalward only to see his effort cleared off the line by David Carney.

Delfouneso looked to have broken the deadlock when he outmuscled Dekel Keinan to head home but he was adjudged to have fouled the Blackpool man by referee Anthony Taylor and the goal was not given.

The teenager was not to be denied though and after latching on to a lovely through ball from Ashley Young, Delfouneso slotted beyond Kingson on the hour.

Blackpool were reeling but manager Holloway refreshed the side as he threw leading scorer Charlie Adam and Campbell into the fray.

The substitution proved inspired, striker Campbell wriggling beyond a panicking Villa defence to unleash a volley that flew in off Collins with only three minutes remaining.

Villa could see their chances of a first win in five matches slipping away from them as Blackpool looked to have salvaged a point.

But neither side was prepared to settle for a draw and as they pressed for the winner it was Collins who popped up with the deciding move, rising to head home from a corner with a minute to play.

*Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier:*

“We were a bit anxious, a bit nervous because we needed the points.

“The first-half I would say was dreadful but the second-half we were better.

“We took more responsibility to attack, created more chances and played a more exciting game.”

*Blackpool manager Ian Holloway:*

“To make 10 changes might have looked crazy. We’ve got four games in 12 days and the lads I’ve played every week are struggling to keep up the level.

“That was a test for us and our strength in depth and a test for the ones who haven’t played and I’m bursting with pride because they were fantastic.

“I felt their performance more than at least deserved a point. The whole club has been represented magnificently.”