Aston Villa were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at Villa Park by Middlesbrough in a mid-week Premiership live clash that manager Martin O'Neil would have dearly loved to win. What will be more concerning for O’Neil is the fact that his team looked flat in the game and it needed a late penalty to rescue a point.

The game began on a sedate pace at Villa Park with both teams foraying into the others' penalty area. Aston Villa though looked inept in the first 45 minutes and seemed content soaking pressure from Middlesbrough although the latter looked capable of scoring at almost any point of time.

Boro manager Gareth Southgate could not have asked for a better performance after his side's shock exit from the FA Cup on Sunday. Stewart Downing put the visitors ahead in the 23rd minute after Villa defender Zat Knight sent a pass into his path.

Downing gleefully accepted the offering and cut through the defense before putting the ball past a diving Scott Carson. The goal should have woken up Villa, but they went from bad to worse with Tuncay making penetrating runs into the Villa area.

After the break, more of the same followed and Boro should have killed the game off on 51 minutes when Mido was unmarked from 10 yards out. Downing picked him out with a precise pass, but his shot went well over the bar.

Boro paid dearly for this mistake when the referee harshly adjudged that Boro defender Luke Young had handled the ball from an Ashley Young cross. Gareth Barry equalized from the spot to snatch a point and keep Villa in contention for a European spot at the end of the Premiership season.