Middlesborough 0-3 Aston Villa:Scott Carson started the day as public enemy number one at the Riverside Stadium but ended it by serving up an improbable assist as Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa revolution rolled on at the expense of woeful Middlesbrough.

Carson had surely expected the wrath which tumbled down from the home stands after his calamitous England performance in midweek and was plainly nervous early on as he let a Stewart Downing shot slip through his grasp.

But the keeper responded by playing a full part in Villa's third goal when his giant clearance fell for Gabriel Agbonlahor in the Boro box to hold off Jonathan Woodgate and fire home.

O'Neill's men had effectively wrapped up the points 10 minutes earlier, when a dreadful attempted clearance from Lee Cattermole fell invitingly for Olof Mellberg to prod the ball past Mark Schwarzer from eight yards.

The striking problems which have crippled Gareth Southgate's men were plain to see and they could seldom muster a shot on target in tame first half which only came to life when John Carew hit Villa's opener in injury time.

By the time Stewart Downing forced Carson into his first proper save of the afternoon with a low drive from the left of the box, the home stands had emptied and few were left to Wheater miss the Wearsiders' only other decent chance.