England Under-21 Gabriel Agbonlahor rounded off a special week by grabbing the winner against Rovers at Ewood Park - a goal which surely secures the club's safety, while veteran Patrick Berger also shone for the visitors.

Agbonlahor latched onto a superb through ball from Berger in the 73rd minute to round goalkeeper Brad Friedel and find the corner with his effort.

Berger had earlier marked his return to the team by getting the equaliser after Benni McCarthy had opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the home side.

Agbonlahor signed a new four-year deal this week 24 hours after finding the target in the 1-1 draw against Everton and O'Neill is predicting a bright future for the player.

"The goal he got against Everton gave him a big boost, " said the Villa boss.

"The next day he signed a contract - and he deserved it.

"He is not the type of lad to sit back and think 'I've done it'. He has lots to do of course but today he was superb.

"He took the goal brilliantly, just a little extra touch. It is never easy beating someone like Brad Friedel.

"It was been a monumental few days for Gabby."

Berger, who has struggled for form and fitness since leaving Liverpool, also won his manager's praise and the Czech Republic midfielder now has a chance of prolonging his stay at the club.

O'Neill said: "Berger rolled back the years with that performance.

"He is a class act, no doubt about it, and is able to change games. This is the longest he has stayed fit since he left Liverpool.

"He had lots of problems last season but he is now training every day."

Villa even missed a penalty with the scores locked at 1-1 when Friedel turned away Gareth Barry's spot kick and O'Neill admitted: "I felt at that stage it was not going to be our day.

"But the players were fantastic from start to finish. We had character in abundance and this is big win for us.

"Maybe we should have woken up a few weeks ago. I expected us to get to the safety mark by now."

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes was disappointed his side could not build on McCarthy's opening goal.

They now face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final a week tomorrow on the back of three successive defeats.

In addition the result is also a setback to their hopes of making a late charge for an FA Cup place.

Meanwhile, Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen needed two stitches inserted in a cut on his head.

He said: "We never got any momentum going and did not create enough chances.

"We did not ask enough questions of Villa, although you have to give them some credit.

"We have probably got to go on and win every game now to get into Europe."