BLACKBURN // The Blackburn manager Paul Ince hailed striker Carlos Villanueva as "different class" after the youngster marked his Rovers debut with a man-of-the-match performance in the 4-1 Carling Cup victory over Grimsby at Ewood Park. Villanueva, 22, played a starring role as an unfamiliar team overcame the shock of falling behind to Tom Newey's superb early free-kick to stroll into round three.
The Chilean player of the year had seen the start of his Rovers career hampered by a bout of chickenpox, and was understandably itching to show his worth to the home fans. And he seized his opportunity by scoring with an exquisite drive into the far corner. The new boy also sent a fizzing left-footed effort just wide of the upright and smacked the bar with a brilliant free-kick in the dying stages. And Ince did little to play down Villanueva's eye-catching display immediately after the game. "The lad is different class," he insisted. "I've said before he is a special talent. I thought he was sensational." Rovers have agreed a fee to sign MK Dons midfielder Keith Andrews.
* PA Sport