Blackburn Rovers Reserves 2 Aston Villa Reserves 1

DAVID Dunn showed just why Roy Hodgson rated him highly enough to put him on the bench for Monday night's Premiership clash with Chelsea, as he inspired Rovers Reserves to a deserved win over Aston Villa at Ewood last night.

The young midfielder was the best player on the pitch as Rovers staged a grand fightback after Villa had grabbed a surprise 52nd minute lead, writes PETER WHITE.

Villa's two-goal European hero of last week Darius Vassell did well on the left and produced the perfect cross for Darren Byfield to finish with a clinical header.

But Rovers, who had dominated the game without showing a cutting edge in attack, hit back in style.

Damien Johnson, not far behind Dunn in the star stakes, produced a solo run and sizzling shot from 25 yards to equalise in the 77th minute.

Three minutes later, the inspirational Dunn - who had moved up front following a substitution - dribbled his way to the bye-line, crossed and the ball ran for sub Garth Scates to fire the winner.

It was no more than Rovers deserved as keeper Michael Oakes had made several good saves, notably two from James Thomas.

The best move of the night saw Dunn and Johnson combine superbly only for Villa to scramble the ball to safety.

Both young men have shown the manager they are determined to continue knocking on the first team door.

Rovers, incidentally, had 12 home-grown players in their 16-man squad. Villa's was a similar type of line-up but they were second best.

ROVERS: Filan, Richardson, Pedersen, Taylor, Croft, Johnson, Dunn (sub Baldacchino 89 mins), Andersson, Staton (Scates 70), Fitzpatrick, Thomas. Subs not used: Worrell, Brown, Williams (gk)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.