Jordan Lyden denied Blackburn Rovers a Premier League 2 Division 2 title celebration and kept their own hopes of winning the league alive with the only goal in Aston Villa's 1-0 win at Ewood Park.
Blackburn only needed a point against their nearest challengers, but Lyden put the Villans 1-0 up with a volley in first-half stoppage time.
Willem Tomlinson and Joe Nuttall had gone close as Rovers pushed for an opener before Lyden's strike.
The visitors went close to adding a second after the break when Keinan Davis hit the post, before Lewis Travis had an effort cleared off the line as Rovers pushed for the goal they needed.
Villa are four points behind Rovers with two matches remaining. The leaders have one fixture left.
Defeat for Villa at Newcastle United on 20 April would hand Blackburn the title, ahead of the final day.
See: Blackburn report | Villa report
Next fixtures
Blackburn: 23 Apr v West Brom (A) PL2
Villa: 20 Apr v Newcastle (A) PL2
