Milner puts Villa in sight of League Cup final

James Milner’s goal gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory at Blackburn in their League Cup semi-final first leg at Ewood Park here on Thursday.

England midfielder Milner scored the only goal of the game half-way through the opening period, finishing off a quick breakaway as Villa took a step closer to a final date against either Manchester City or Manchester United.

Blackburn, whose only victory in the last 12 matches was on penalties in the quarter-finals against Chelsea, were poor throughout.

And even though they managed to hit the post through Nikola Kalinic on two occasions in the second half, Villa are now strong favourites to reach a first final in a decade.

Rovers started on the front foot and David Dunn had a shot on the turn deflected wide by Richard Dunne after just a couple of minutes.

But Villa quickly got themselves on top and from Stewart Downing’s corner, Ryan Nelsen pulled off a desperate block from James Collins’ header.

From yet another corner, Ashley Young cut in from the left and lashed way wide of Paul Robinson’s goal.

Martin O’Neill’s side were still dominating and Gabriel Agbonlahor had a low drive held by Robinson after he was fed by Emile Heskey.

And midway through the first half, they grabbed the lead with a quick counter attack.

Robinson’s long free kick into the Villa area was headed away by Collins.

Milner raced into the Blackburn half and knocked it wide for Downing who guided the ball into the area for Milner to stab in.

Rovers looked to be running out of ideas fast and Brett Emerton’s hopeful drive straight at Stephen Warnock summed up their frustration.

Six minutes before the break, Villa looked like they might add a second – but Agbonlahor was booking for diving.

The England striker cut in from the left and went down under Chris Samba’s challenge in the area. But instead of pointing to the spot, referee Mark Clattenburg showed the him a yellow card.

When Dunn finally managed to thread Kalinic through, the Croatian was denied by Richard Dunne’s sliding challenge.

Villa could have doubled their lead just before the interval but Robinson pulled off a fine block at the near post from Stiliyan Petrov.

A minute after the restart Milner threatened once again with a powerful low strike that was held by Robinson.

And Young rifled straight across Robinson’s six-yard box after a run that beat Rovers substitute Martin Olsson.

Kalinic passed up a great chance to level nine minutes after the restart when he headed against the post from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross.

Dunn also flashed a shot wide after Olsson’s cross from the left caused panic in the Villa defence.

Pascal Chimbonda’s cross picked out Kalinic 15 yards from goal but the Croatian’s effort again came back off the post.

Villa continued to threaten on the break and Young could have killed the tie midway through the second half but failed to make contact with Downing’s whipped cross from the left.

Young was wasteful once again when he was played through by Steve Sidwell only to fire wide of goal.

Rovers manager Sam Allardyce threw on South African star Benni McCarthy with a quarter of an hour to go.

And Australian midfielder Emerton forced a fine save from Bradley Guzan as Blackburn looked for a way back into the game.

It could have been even worse for Blackburn if Robinson had not pulled off an impressive late save from Agbonlahor.