TEN-Man Rovers crashed to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa at Ewood Park this Wednesday evening.

Rovers dominated the first half but found themselves a goal down when one-time trainee John Carew beat Brad Friedel to a centre and headed home on the half hour. Before that the saves of Scott Carson and the flag of the linesman had stopped the home side from leading.

Any chance of a comeback was quickly dashed when Ryan Nelsen was harshly given his marching orders for pulling down Gabriel Agbonlahor in the area. Gareth Barry, who had missed a penalty in the corresponding match last season, made no mistake this time. It proved to be the match-turning decision.

With Rovers pushing on for a way back into the game spaces at the back opened up, and with nine minutes remaining the visitors exploited it to the full as Agbonlahor cut the ball back from the byline and Ashley Young had time and space to pick his spot with a curling effort into the net.

A minute from time substitute Marlon Harewood added a fourth, Friedel had done well to save Carew's initial effort, but the ball fell kindly for Harewood to lash home for Rovers' heaviest home league defeat since Middlesbrough inflicted a similar scoreline in October 2004.

The only bright moment on an otherwise miserable night for Rovers was the appearance of Steven Reid on the Ewood pitch, the Republic of Ireland international added to his five minutes on Sunday, with a half hour under his belt, but that will be small comfort for the Rovers boss.

With almost a full compliment of playing staff to choose from, Mark Hughes made just the two changes to the side that had started against Fulham on Sunday. Roque Santa Cruz returned up front to partner the fit again Benni McCarthy, whilst David Dunn, free of suspension, was preferred in midfield. Morten Gamst Pedersen and Tugay making way.

The pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor caused Rovers and in particular Christopher Samba problems in the opening exchanges, but Rovers soon got into their groove.

Whilst the two sets of fans exchanged boos and whistles, the Rovers supporters directing their mirth towards Gareth Barry and Scott Carson, the opposition supporters gave a similar reaction to David Dunn and Robbie Savage, the fare on the pitch was a pleasure to watch.

Just nine minutes on the clock had elapsed when David Dunn took up the invitation to shoot from fully 35 yards out, but despite a swerving dipping ball, Carson did enough to beat it away, Bouma on hand to stop McCarthy pouncing in his usual fashion.

The play continued towards Scott Carson's goal, a corner kick the unlikely figure of Ryan Nelsen hooked a left-boot around the ball and let fly but the England stopper was down quickly to make the save.

Roque Santa Cruz went close on 13 minutes, released by Emerton, he drove with the ball towards goal from the right but his powerful effort flashed narrowly over the corner of post and bar. Then Scott Carson had to push the ball behind two-handed from Bentley's curling free-kick.

On twenty minutes came one of those contentious moments that can change games, good approach play in the Villa half saw Roque Santa Cruz flick the ball into the path of Benni McCarthy, from the corner of the area he beat Carson with his curling effort into the opposite corner, but the linesman's flag caught his eye as he turned away to celebrate. TV replays showed that the South African was level at least.

But unlike on Sunday when Rovers scored when they were on top, that wasn't to be the case here at Ewood. Ashley Young drew a foul from David Dunn, the Rovers man standing in Young's way as he cut in from the left. And it was Young himself who curled in the resulting free-kick, Friedel came and didn't connect allowing John Carew the simple opportunity of heading into the empty net.

Shocked by going behind Rovers stumbled for a while after that, Mokoena allowed the ball to run through to Carew, but thankfully he couldn't add to his tally, then from the Norwegian's flick Friedel had to be out quickly to block Agbonlahor's effort.

A late rally saw Bentley have an effort that deflected narrowly wide, but as the half-time whilst blew the home side left the field scratching their heads wondering quite how they weren't winning.

The home side came out with renewed enthusiasm at the start of the second half, Benni McCarthy struck a volley that was heading for the top corner until Wilfred Bouma bravely put his head in the way. Then from a corner kick, Christopher Samba powered a header over the bar from close range.

Referee Phil Dowd had already shown the fussy side to his nature when he booked Olof Mellberg for complaining about a decision that went against him, but it was the side in blue and white that had reason to complain on 52 minutes.

A high ball into the Rovers area was cleared by Ooijer but it struck the back of Samba, as the ball fell invitingly to Agbonlahor on the edge of the six yard box he went crashing to the ground as Nelsen pulled his shirt, the referee didn't have a moments hesitation in pointing to the spot, and to make matters worse he then issued Ryan Nelsen with a straight red. Surely the penalty itself was penance.

Ten-man Rovers reshuffled, Andre Ooijer stepped in at centre-half, Emerton back to his more accustomed right-back position, then Jason Roberts and Steven Reid were introduced with just over twenty minutes to go as Mark Hughes tried to make the changes that could allow Rovers a way back into the game.

But despite plenty of effort and forcing a series of corner kicks, it was perhaps to be expected that with Rovers pushing forward they would leave themselves susceptible at the back, and when Gabriel Agbonlahor's cutback was swept home by Ashley Young, there was to be no way back.

There was even time for substitute Marlon Harewood to add a fourth, Friedel did well to stop Carew's point-blank shot, but the ball spilled to the former West Ham striker and he made no mistake from ten yards out.

So Rovers now have to pick themselves right back up, they've little time to dwell with the visit of Newcastle United to Ewood Park on Saturday.

ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Bentley (sub Pedersen 82 mins), Emerton, Mokoena (sub Reid 67 mins), Dunn, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Roberts 67 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Savage.

ASTON VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen, Barry (c), Young, Carew, Agbonlahor (sub Harewood 85 mins), Knight, Petrov (sub Gardner 82 mins), Reo-Coker.

Subs not used: Taylor (GK), Davies, Berger.

Booked: Mellberg (Aston Villa)

Off: Nelsen (Rovers)

Attendance: 20,776