FA PREMIER LEAGUE/Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1:ASTON VILLA may have bemoaned the FA Cup upsets that have done much to undermine their chances of qualifying for Europe but last night Martin O'Neill's side did little to help themselves. An uncharacteristically lacklustre display against a Middlesbrough team playing with all the passion and character that had been so glaringly absent against Cardiff would have culminated in defeat but for Steve Bennett's harsh decision to award a penalty late on.
Middlesbrough, inspired by the outstanding Tuncay Sanli, had been excellent up until that point but hopes of securing the win which would have eased relegation fears disappeared when Bennett deemed Luke Young had used his hand to block Ashley Young's shot.
Television replays appeared to show that the ball had struck the full back on the shoulder, accentuating the sense of injustice when Gareth Barry converted.
Villa supporters have been high on optimism this season but the audible groans emanating from the Holte End at the interval said everything about the home team's listless performance. Bright in possession and hard-working without the ball, Middlesbrough were firmly in control, with the lead that arrived through Stuart Downing's seventh goal of the season providing deserved reward for their impressive opening 45 minutes.
Middlesbrough's breakthrough exposed Zat Knight's defensive frailties. Sanli appeared to be chasing a lost cause when he raced into the far corner, but Knight's poor clearance invited Downing to gambol forward. There was still much to do but the England winger easily beat Knight before drilling a low shot from 12 yards inside Scott Carson's near upright.
ASTON VILLA: Carson, Gardner (Mellberg 46), Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Maloney (Harewood 46), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs not used: Taylor, Salifou, Osbourne. Goals: Barry 74 pen.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Young, Huth, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Shawky, Downing, Sanli, Mido (Cattermole 83). Subs not used: Turnbull, Rochemback, Johnson, Grounds. Booked: Shawky, Schwarzer, Mido, Boateng, Huth. Goals: Downing 23.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
