Alex McLeish kicked off his first Villa Park match with a near perfect start thanks to goals from Gabby Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent. Only Morten Gamst Pedersen’s very well taken header spoiled the perfect result. Most importantly though; three points and a convincing performance were required today… and we got both.

McLeish made no changes from the starting line-up at Craven Cottage last weekend, although the system was slightly more attacking in nature; much more of a 4-2-3-1 instead of the 4-4-1-1 we saw last time. It’s a subtle, but important difference.

Blackburn pressed well for the opening 10 minutes, focusing their attention on their left side, but the home team soon took control of the game with Gabby Agbonlahor leading the way. His work rate down the left side was most impressive today.

Fittingly, Gabby got his reward with a fantastic goal in the 12th minute after picking up Bent’s layoff in the left channel, jinking into the box and then curling a perfectly weighted shot to the far top corner. An absolutely brilliant effort, exactly what we want to see more of from Gabby.

Heskey doubled the lead in the 25th minute after latching onto Gabby’s square ball just inside the D. The Blackburn back line gave him all the room in the world, almost daring him to shoot. So he did, slipping over in the process, but still getting enough on it to beat Paul Robinson’s desperate dive.

Both Gabby and Luke Young appeared to pick up knocks during the latter part of the first half, Marc Albrighton replaced Gab at the break; the first time we got to see our two wingers on the pitch at the same time. As good as Charles N’Zogbia was on the right, his natural game comes to the fore on the left. Exciting signs of what’s to come.

Blackburn spoiled the party in the 52nd minute after David Hoilett took advantage of defensive errors from Young and Albrighton before sending an inviting cross that Pedersen was only too happy to get between James Collins and Richard Dunne to nod in.

Ciaran Clark replaced Young in the 56th minute, filling in at left back with Stephen Warnock taking Young’s place on the right. With Clark the only defender on the bench, it made perfect sense and it was okay. No problems.

McLeish made his 3rd change in the 66th minute, bringing Barry Bannan on in place of Heskey as the game threatened to get away from him. The change paid dividends almost immediately with Bannan’s movement and enthusiasm bringing a fresh dimension, but it was Stiliyan Petrov’s optimistic shot from distance that failed to get past the back line only for you-know-who to pounce on the loose rebound.

Bent took a touch or two to get the ball out from under his feet before blasting in from point blank range, beating Robinson at his near post. Textbook stuff from the game’s ultimate predator.

Game over, it was just a question of seeing it out at 3-1 and that’s what happened.

I’ve somehow managed not to mention one of the best players on the pitch today, Fabian Delph. Another solid performance in the centre of the park, he’s completely justified his inclusion alongside Petrov.

Overall, it was a pretty decent performance against a pretty poor outfit. The organisation, communication and movement were all much improved. Still a little narrow and conservative at times for my own liking, but I’m beginning to see what I think it is McLeish has in mind.

However, some slight concerns; the two best players today – Young and Agbonlahor – were both forced off with knocks of some description, and Collins was again taking the goal kicks in the final 10 minutes or so.

Fortunately, Wednesday’s Tuesday’s game offers the chance to rest several players, although I hope it isn’t a whole new team trotting out against Hereford, I’d like to see some continuity.

Still, that’s then, this is now and, as it stands, we’re top of the league at the moment. We even finished today with a little keep ball – Bannan, Delph and Clark the instigators – causing the 32k in attendance to respond with some oles.

It’s early days, yes, and this Blackburn are very poor, but let’s just enjoy something a lot of folk would have had you believe was impossible just a few weeks ago.

Aston Villa starting XI: Given, Young (Clark 56′), Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Delph, Petrov, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor (Albrighton 46′), Heskey (Bannan 66′), Bent. Unused Subs: Guzan, Ireland, Makoun, Delfouneso.