Aston Villa suffered a second straight defeat as they were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough in their Premier League encounter on Sunday.

After a quiet start to the game, Sanli Tuncay put Boro in the lead four minutes past the half hour mark but Steve Sidwell equalized for Villa three minutes later. Just when it looked like the match was heading for a draw, Tuncay snatched the winner with just two minutes remaining to give all three points for his side.

Both the sides showed a cautious approach to the game with the first real chance coming on the half hour mark when Ashley Young's free kick took a deflection off the Boro wall and keeper Ross Turnbull was quick to react to the danger and parried the ball out to safety.

After riding their luck on the free kick, Boro then took the lead at the other end when Tuncay snatched the ball from Nicky Shorey before slotting it past Brad Friedel from just six yards out.

Villa recovered well to provide an immediate response three minute when James Milner crossed the ball for Sidwell to head home his second goal for the club. Middlesbrough nearly regained the lead minutes later when Stewart Downing twice tested Friedel with long range efforts but the American keeper was equal to the challenge.

The visitors stepped up the pressure in the second half with Agbonlahor, Sidwell and Milner all having great chance to put Villa in the lead but were unable to hit the back of the net. Afonso Alves missed a golden chance to score midway through the second half but some how managed to shoot wide from just three yards out with Friedel horribly out of position.

With time running out, it looked as if both the teams will have to share the points but Tuncay had other ideas as the Turkish striker raced forward to meet a dreadful back pass from Sidwell to slot home the winner with just two minutes remaining on the clock.