Gabriel is real deal as Villa look to future

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If Blackburn feel aggrieved after being denied by the bar, Thomas Sorensen's pointblank save from substitute Shabani Nonda and having a penalty appeal turned down, all in a frantic finale, they should have matched Villa's hunger and urgency in the opening half. It left Villa manager Martin O'Neill delighted and full of praise for his young strike star.

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He said: "It has been a monumental week for Gabby. He scored our equaliser against Everton on Monday, signed his new contract on Tuesday and was absolutely superb.

"He is only 20 but he had the confidence to take an extra touch and go round Brad Friedel to score his goal.

"All our players showed character in abundance and it was a big win for us."

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes had asked his players for five wins from their last seven league games to qualify for Europe, and O'Neill wanted five points to secure their Premiership status.

Blackburn's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Old Trafford next Sunday invaded their thoughts for too long, although Benni McCarthy put them ahead with a 24th-minute penalty — his 19th goal of the season — after Phil Bardsley had tripped Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Villa levelled after 34 minutes with Patrik Berger's first goal since he joined them from Portsmouth. He arrived unannounced six yards out to touch home Bardsley's cross.

Blackburn showed more fight in the second half but needed a spectacular penalty save by Friedel to prevent Villa from going ahead after skipper Ryan Nelsen had been penalised for handball.

Gareth Barry struck the kick well but Friedel anticipated its route correctly and saved.

But Berger punished David Dunn's errant pass to provide Agbonlahor with a clear run to score his eighth goal of the season and clinch the points.

Hughes said after his side's third successive defeat: "We can complain about the soft penalty given against us, but the fact is we didn't ask enough questions of Villa."