Blackburn Rovers may consider themselves a touch unlucky after losing to the runaway leaders for the second time this season.

Not everyone at Walsall's Bescot Stadium thought that John Fitzgerald had deliberately handled when referee Cordy pointed to the spot in the 29th minute.

Beanpole striker Peter Crouch duly converted the controversial penalty and that put Villa 3-1 in front following a gripping four goals in 12 minutes.

And 11 minutes from the end, with the score at 4-2, substitute Keith Barker was guilty of an astounding miss after being left with only Wayne Henderson to beat following an error by Mark Kinsella.

A goal then might have made for an interesting finish, but it has to be said that Villa deserved their 14th win of the season as they closed in on what seems to be a certain title for the Midlanders.

However, Rovers played their part in an entertaining game which pulsated from the start, with Marcus Allback and Crouch both going close to putting Villa ahead in the opening minute.

The home side took the lead on 17 minutes when ex-Villa keeper Peter Enckelman was deceived by Steven Davis's header from a corner by Moustapha Hadji.

Allback added the second after 23 minutes following good work by Peter Hynes, but Rovers came back three minutes later when Ciaran Donnelly laid on the chance for Jerome Watt to score.

The Crouch penalty put Villa back in command, but Neil Danns gave Rovers another lifeline with a spectacular 58th minute goal. The midfielder's left-footed shot was low and fierce. It hit the inside of an upright and rocketed right across the line and into the side-netting.

But Villa restored the two-goal advantage just three minutes later. This time Allback and Hynes combined well before the former crossed for Crouch to slide in his second goal from close range.

That effectively settled it, despite Barker's late chance and Villa now need just 10 points from their remaining 11 games to clinch the championship.

Aston Villa Reserves... 4

Blackburn Rovers Res... 2

Villa (4-4-2): Henderson; de la Cruz, Bewers, Ridgewell, Amoo; Hadji, Kinsella, Davis, Hynes (Foley 81); Allback (L Moore 63), Crouch. Subs not used: Olejnik, Cahill, O'Connor.

Rovers (4-4-2): Enckelman; Peers, Fitzgerald, Johansson, Morgan; Watt, Danns, Harkins (Byrom 68), Corvino (Barker 57); Donnelly, Jansen. Subs not used: Taylor, Drench, Bruce.

Referee: J N Cordy.