Ian Holloway saw his Blackpool side end a run of five straight defeats with a stirring display at Bloomfield Road.

When Gabriel Agbonlahor opened the scoring for Aston Villa after 10 minutes it could have opened the floodgates.

Instead Blackpool regrouped quickly and equalised four minutes later thanks to Elliot Grandin.

Villa were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Jean Makoun was given a straight red card after a challenge on DJ Campbell.

But they had lacked drive before then and that must be a concern to manager Gerard Houllier.

Villa were as poor in the second half as they were bright in the first half. Darren Bent had sight of goal inside the first minute after Agbonlahor picked him out but his effort was blocked.

Blackpool again found themselves on the back foot moments later when Ashley Young released Stuart Downing but his cross was scrambled away.

Villa made the breakthrough in the 10th minute following a swift counter attack that left the home side exposed.

Bent laid the ball off to Agbonlahor and he showed a blistering turn of pace before going around Richard Kingson and firing a shot into the corner.