Villa 3 Blackpool 2

James Collins headed home a dramatic 89th-minute winner as Villa gained their first Premier League win in six against an under-strength Blackpool.

Sub DJ Campbell had looked to have stolen a point for the visitors with a shot which took a cruel deflection off Villa's Wales defender with just three minutes left, but Collins' last-gasp header made amends.

Stewart Downing had seen his opener cancelled out by ex-Villa striker Marlon Harewood before Nathan Delfouneso had put Villa ahead for a second time,with his first of the season on the hour mark.

Manager Gerard Houllier stuck with the team which finished Saturday's game at Fulham, with Ciaran Clark for the injured Nigel Reo-Coker the only change.

But it was news of counterpart Ian Holloway's team which really caught the eye with the Seasiders making a staggering 10 changes to the team which drew with Everton.

It was one of those inclusions, Harewood, who was quickly in the action – the striker wasting two golden chances from Matt Phillips passes early on.

Villa took the lead on 28 when Downing neatly exchanged passes with Ashley Young, turned on the edge of the area before lashing home with the aid of a deflection off defender Dekel Keinan.

But Blackpool levelled on the stroke of half-time when Harewood latched onto a Phillips backheel, before calmly slotting beyond goalkeeper Brad Friedel and into the left corner.

Villa turned up the heat after the break and Collins had a header hooked off the line by David Carney, while Richard Dunne's header from a Downing corner grazed the top of the bar.

Delfouneso then had one harshly chalked off for a push but the striker was soon celebrating when he raced onto Ashley Young's pass and kept his cool to put Villa ahead for a second time.

Gabby Agbonlahor was introduced for Delfouneso four minutes later, making his long-awaited return from groin surgery.

But it was another substitute, Campbell, who was to have a greater say on proceedings when his shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off Collins and looped over Friedel.

However, the centre-back went from zero to hero by heading home a corner with just a minute to go to send Villa Park wild.