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LONDON - New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen was sent off as his Blackburn Rovers side crashed to a 0-4 English Premier League soccer loss to Aston Villia today.
Villa swept to their fourth consecutive win, with their victory at Ewood Park turning on the controversial straight red card shown to Nelsen in the 52nd minute.
The lead was 1-0 at that stage courtesy of a John Carew header but Blackburn looked the better side until Nelsen was ruled to have brought down striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the penalty box by pulling his shirt.
Replays showed referee Phil Dowd may have been hasty, with the shirt tug being of a lightweight nature.
It was the second time Nelsen has been sent off this season, having suffered the same fate against Arsenal in August.
Gareth Barry converted the penalty, Ashley Young drove in a third in the 81st minute and Marlon Harewood got the fourth a minute from the end and four minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The win moved Villa up to sixth on 27 points, only three points behind second-placed champions Manchester United, while Blackburn are ninth on 23 points.
- REUTERS