Aston Villa Reserves 2 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 5

DAMIEN Duff was expected to embark on his come back, following a six-week absence through a hamstring injury - but Rovers have erred on the side of cauiton.

It was decided to give the Republic of Ireland international another nine days rest before Blackburn's senior match against Arsenal and instead it was young striker Paul Gallagher who caught the eye in a comfortable win.

The 17-year-old fired two opportunist first half goals to help Rovers on their way to a convincing victory over top of the table Villa.

Then three goals in an eight-minute spell during the second half rubbed it in for the home side, who fielded several senior players.

It completed a nightmare week for Villa, following Monday's battle on and off the pitch and eventual Premiership defeat by neighbours Birmingham City.

However, it was a triumphant night for Rovers, despite the rain which made for gruelling conditions at Villa Park.

Yet it looked as though Villa might chalk up their 12th victory of the season when they went ahead in the 19th minute.

Marcus Allback fed Ulises de la Cruz on the right and the latter's cross enabled Hassan Kachloul to leave Ryan Robinson no chance.

But Blackburn were soon ahead thanks to Gallagher.

On 28 minutes the youngster pounced when Villa 'keeper Stefan Postma failed to gather Alan Morgan's corner.

Six minutes later Gallagher finished like a veteran, looping a precision

shot into the corner with Postma stranded off his line.

Villa pulled level on 38 minutes through de la Cruz, but rampant Rovers raced away with it after the interval.

Neil Danns' strong run took him past central defender Liam Ridgewell to drive low into Postma's right-hand corner on 64 minutes.

Six minutes later Ridgewell fouled Jerome Watt, giving Gallagher the chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty. But the teenager's spot-kick was saved by Postma, leaving Jonathan Douglas to finish the job.

Rovers' fifth goal in the 72nd minute sewed up the points.

Watt crossed dangerously from the left and desperate defender Danny Jackman could only slice an attempted clearance past the helpless Postma.

Robinson had a late save to make from Peter Whittingham, but Rovers fully deserved the victory.

VILLA: Postma, Bewers, Jackman, Edwards (Ridgewell 46), Alpay, Leonhardsen,

de la Cruz, Kinsella (Whittingham 46), Crouch, Allback, Kachloul. Subs not

used: Myhill, O'Connor, Aaritalo.

ROVERS: Robinson, Cole, Pelzer, Danns, Greer, Taylor, Watt, Donnelly, Gallagher, Douglas, Morgan. Subs not used: Black, Renton, Fitzgerald, Bruce, Harkins.

Referee: S Dorr