Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill was left frustrated after Blackburn came from behind to beat his side 2-1 on Saturday.

Home favourite David Dunn kept his nerve from the penalty spot as 10-man Blackburn came from behind to shatter Villa's 100% away record.

Dunn swept the winner past former Rovers keeper 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.

O'Neill said: "I'm naturally disappointed to lose all three points. We got off to a great start and I thought even at 1-1 at half-time we would go on to win.

"Maybe we didn't create as many clear-cut chances in the second half but I thought we were worthy of a point but it's never easy here."

O'Neill expressed his disappointment over the late penalty decision, questioning whether Richard Dunne's handball had been intentional.

O'Neill said: "It's something to do with a new set of directives that if your arm is in an unnatural position you can be adjudged to have handled the ball.

"But if he had used his head we would probably have won a free-kick because the striker's leg was high."

One bright spot for O'Neill was the continued form of Agbonlahor, who has now struck four league goals already this term, but ultimately it counted for nothing because of what O'Neill described as a 'strong' Rovers display.

He added: "Gaby is doing brilliantly for us. We were hoping to get something else today because we were perfect away from home.

"When we got the early start I was hoping to get the ball down and play, but it's difficult. Blackburn played very, very strongly as I expected them to do."