Conor Hourihane’s late free-kick earns Aston Villa a point at Blackburn

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

A stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Conor Hourihane earned Aston Villa a dramatic 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Bradley Dack’s elegant 76th-minute flick looked to have settled proceedings on his 50th appearance for the club, but Villa got their rewards in the third minute of added time through Hourihane’s precise free-kick from 25 yards.

It was just about the right result, despite a contentious offside decision ruling out a first-half Dack header. But Villa would have been aggrieved after a strong second half, in which on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham ought to have netted.

Although scant consolation, the result means Rovers have now gone a full year without losing at home in the league.

For Villa, the draw means they avoid losing three straight games.

Dack was the only change from the Bristol City defeat, while Steve Bruce made three changes, including a first start for Abraham.

Villa started brightly but it was the hosts who carved out the first clear chance when Charlie Mulgrew’s cross was met by Darragh Lenihan six yards out but Orjan Nyland produced a fine save, diverting the ball away with his foot.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 27th minute through Dack’s thumping header from another outstanding Mulgrew cross, but it was ruled offside, in what was a marginal decision.

Tempers flared soon after when John McGinn tumbled in the box, only to receive nothing, leaving the Villa bench incredulous.

Abraham forced David Raya into a save just before the break and the Spanish goalkeeper thwarted the Villa forward again early in the second half after the 20-year-old skipped past a challenge to make space 18 yards out.

The striker grew into the game and saw a sharp near-post header drift just wide as the visitors upped their threat.

Villa captain James Chester had an even better chance in the 57th minute when a corner came to him in the centre of the area but he missed the target under pressure.

The visitors should have taken the lead in the 70th minute when Abraham and Jonathan Kodjia played a neat one-two, giving the former a clear sight at goal but he lashed wide of he target.

And Rovers made Villa pay for their profligacy 14 minutes from time with a moment of real quality. Mulgrew’s cross caused panic in the visitors’ box and Danny Graham’s shot was turned home by a sumptuous Dack flick – his fifth goal of the season.

Bruce reacted by bringing Hourihane and new signing Yannick Bolasie off the bench, and Hourihane snatched a point with a left-footed free-kick which curled past the helpless Raya and into the left corner.