David Dunn kept his nerve from the penalty spot as 10-man Blackburn came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Ewood Park, shattering their 100% league away record this season.
Dunn swept the winner past former Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the 89th minute after the home side bounced back from the early blow of Gabriel Agbonlahor's opener.
Chris Samba struck an equaliser in the 24th minute but despite Vince Grella's 68th-minute dismissal the home side pushed on to claim the three points in style.
Finding himself in space in the box after a James Milner flick-on, Agbonlahor took less than three minutes to roll his fourth league goal of the season in off the post.
Villa were made to pay for their near miss in the 24th minute when Di Santo chased down Ryan Nelsen's long punt into the box and Chris Samba pounced to prod home the equaliser.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's ball into the box caused panic just past the half-hour mark and it fell to Dunn, whose overhead kick from the edge of the six-yard box was somehow tipped over the bar.
Di Santo squirmed a second-half header wide from a cross by El-Hadji Diouf before Agbonlahor hooked a 61st-minute effort just over the bar.
But Rovers' hopes of pressing on to claim the three points were hit by the sending-off of Grella in the 68th minute for a second bookable offence after an unnecessary foul on Milner.
Undaunted, Rovers continued to press and substitute Brett Emerton brought another fine save out of Friedel after Lars Jacobsen cut the ball back in the 83rd minute.
Rovers were finally awarded a spot-kick in the 87th minute after Di Santo's attempted overhead kick was handled by Richard Dunne - and Dunn stepped up to send Friedel the wrong way.
Comment 1 - 4 of 4
We kid ourselves surely that MON takes any notice of even experienced critics in these columns.
After the Wigan defeat I lambasted a system that played 2 wingers 2 forwards and just 2 midfielders when those mid-fielders were the less-than-robust tacklers Petrov and Delph. Suddenly the layout changed with Sidwell and Reo-Coker stiffening the midfield at the expense of Delph and one striker. We won 5 on the bounce.
Blow me down if MON does not revert to the failed formation at Blackburn! We lost,same reasons as v Wigan. Never mind the penalty that wasn't. The ball should have been in the ten-men's area not ours.
I don't fancy our chances against M City unless we treat them with the respect we showed Liverpool, work to close them down and ensure we do not concede the midfield.
too many pats on the backs too early in the season for lazy villa villa brings defeat, always been a problem at villa, pats on backs should be given after trophies are won, soft management
Dingles??? is that the team that lost 5 0 today?? and have conceded more goals than anyone else in the league??? and are going down with the portsmouth?? must be eh?? ha ha ha bring em on!
best game i have seen this year.BRING ON THE DINGALS
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