Ireland gets Villa start

Blackburn v Aston Villa

David Dunn returned to Blackburn’s starting line-up for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Ewood Park, Rovers’ first match since being taken over by Indian company Venky’s.

Dunn replaced the injured Brett Emerton in one of three changes to the side which had been beaten 4-2 at Tottenham.

Jason Roberts and El-Hadji Diouf were the other men to come in, with Nikola Kalinic and Pascal Chimbonda dropping to the bench.

Gerard Houllier made two adjustments to the Villa team which had drawn 2-2 with Manchester United, handing Stephen Ireland and Ciaran Clark starts in place of James Collins and Marc Albrighton.

Robert Pires, who signed a six-month deal with the midlands club earlier in the week, was amongst the substitutes.