Blackburn Rovers 0 Aston Villa 1:Aston Villa took a step towards next month's League Cup final at Wembley when a James Milner goal gave them a richly deserved win over Blackburn in the first leg of their semi-final at Ewood Park.
Milner struck after a lightning quick counter-attack in the 23rd minute that began with an unconvincing punch out from Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan and ended with Milner, unmarked in the Rovers area, angling his shot home.
Rovers, largely overwhelmed in the first half and booed off at the break, improved in the second period and Nikola Kalinic was unlucky not to score after hitting the same post twice, first with a header then with a well-struck low curling shot.
The teams meet again in the second leg at Villa Park next Wednesday and the eventual winners will face either holders Manchester United or Manchester City in the 50th League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on February 28th.