Blackburn Rovers gave their new Indian owners a winning start to their reign on Sunday after two goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen proved decisive in a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Blackburn Rovers gave their new Indian owners a winning start to their reign on Sunday after two goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen proved decisive in a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
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Pedersen struck a goal in each half as Blackburn delighted new owners Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao, who were watching from the stands at a bitterly cold Ewood Park after their takeover of the club was confirmed on Friday.
The win lifted Blackburn to 11th in the Premier League table with 18 points, trailing Newcastle in 10th by virtue of goal difference.
"It's a fantastic day for us," said Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.
"I think the fans turning out in the bitter cold weather is very important and we've paid them back handsomely today.
"We got defence and attack just right. In the end we snuffed them out brilliantly and took our goals in the end."
Allardyce admitted he was pleased to provide a winning start for the Raos, who run poultry giant Venky's.
"I hope we've sent them home very happy and excited about their new asset," Allardyce told BBC radio. "I can imagine coming from India they felt the cold more than we did. But hopefully the result warmed them."
The victory was reward for a disciplined display by Rovers, who punished Villa at the end of the first half following the latest in a string of fouls committed by the visitors in dangerous areas.
Villa defender Stephen Warnock needlessly bundled over Blackburn's El-Hadji Diouf wide on the right, and from the ensuing free-kick Pedersen whipped in a wicked cross that Brad Friedel misjudged completely as it curled in.
Villa were a different side after the interval, and within three minutes of the restart had created more goalscoring chances than they managed in the entire first half.
England international Ashley Young was the first to test Paul Robinson, cutting in from the left flank and unleashing a powerful shot that the Rovers goalkeeper managed to bat away.
Young almost scored in the next passage of play, but his header from a Stewart Downing cross crashed off the bar.
But Villa's bright start counted for little midway through the half when Pedersen netted his second.
Defender Phil Jones lashed in a shot from just inside the area and Norwegian international Pedersen was on hand to divert the ball past Friedel.
Villa handed a debut to new signing Robert Pires for the final 20 minutes, but the veteran Frenchman, signed on a free transfer, was unable to make much of an impact.
Blackburn had a chance to kill the game off when Michel Salgado crossed invitingly for Diouf, only for the unmarked Senegalese international to nod over from close range at the back post.
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