Aston Villa played the last-hour with ten men but by then they were leading 3-1 against Blackburn Rovers at Villa Park and easily held on for a fifth round berth. These two teams have now met in the Carling Cup and FA Cup, this season and last season, and in all encounters Villa have triumphed.
This result also means Rovers have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League opposition in 13 of the last 15 years
All the goals in today's clash came in the first half as both managers fielded inexperienced teams in what turned out to be a lively encounter.
Ciaran Clark nodded the host's ahead early on but Rovers were level within seven minutes as Nikola Kalinic bundled home from close range.
But two goals close to half time settled the tie. Robert Pires scored his first goal for Villa to put them back in front and Nathan Delfouneso took advantage of slack Blackburn marking to head number three.
With half-an-hour left, Villa defender Nathan Baker saw a straight red for a wild tackle on David Hoilett but for all Rovers dominance they rarely threatened and Gerard Houllier's team finished the game comfortably protecting their two goal advantage.
Referee: Lee Probert
Venue: Villa Park Attendance: 26,067
Aston Villa scorers: Clark 11, Pires 35, Delfouneso 42 Blackburn scorers: Kalinic 18
ASTON VILLA 01 Friedel 21 Clark 24 Cuellar 32 Baker (red card) 36 Walker 08 Pires (Collins 68) 20 Reo-Coker 25 Bannan 11 Agbonlahor (Downing 46) 14 Delfouneso (Albrighton 72) 18 Heskey
Substitutes 33 Marshall, 29 Collins, 06 Downing, 07 Young, 12 Albrighton, 16 Delph, 19 Petrov
BLACKBURN 01 Robinson 03 Olsson 04 Samba 27 Salgado 31 Hanley 12 Pedersen 15 Nzonzi 17 Andrews (Grella 70) 18 Santa Cruz (Kalinic 10) 23 Hoilett 30 Roberts (Mwaruwari 85)
Substitutes 13 Bunn, 02 J Jones, 11 Grella, 35 Lowe, 09 Kalinic, 10 Diouf, 21 Mwaruwari
