Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 1
Middlesbrough all but relegated as Villa snatch point
They may still have the tiniest chance of survival but Middlesbrough are all but relegated to the Championship after failing to beat Aston Villa at the Riverside this afternoon. John Carew’s 56th minute equalizer after a slip from Marlon King cancelled out Tuncay’s spectacular first half strike.
Villa started the match with James Milner playing right back due to the absence of Luke Young. Emile Heskey played on the right wing and Carlos Cuellar returned to central defence to partner Curtis Davies.
It took barely 20 seconds for Milner to be exposed in an unfamiliar right back role. Stuart Downing beat the Villa winger for pace and his cross was cleared by Curtis Davies for an early Boro corner. The atmosphere was tense at the Riverside Stadium with Villa supporters in very good voice throughout. Arca had a chance on five minutes after Downing again beat Milner for pace but his header lacked power and Fridiel saved comfortably.
Villa really should have been ahead on ten minutes when Gabby Agbonlahor found himself clear in the area with only Brad Jones to beat in the Boro goal. The England striker hit the shot tamely at Jones when he really should’ve buried it past the Boro keeper. Villa paid for that miss when Boro took the lead on 13 minutes. A Downing cross was deflected by Milner into the path of Tuncay who hit a spectacular overhead kick past Brad Friedel from 12 yards out. The goal lifted the home crowd who began to think that maybe the great escape was on.
Boro suffered a massive blow half way through the first half when Stuart Downing was stretchered off after a heavy challenge by Stiliyan Petrov. Downing was replaced by striker Marlon King with Tuncay drifting out wide.
Villa had a spell of possession but failed to make the most of their final ball. Shorey, Young and Barry both failed to deliver telling crosses into the area when in advantageous positions.
Boro felt they should’ve had a penalty after 37 minutes when a Gary O’Neil ball into the area was fumbled by Brad Friedel in the Villa goal and it looked as if Carew climbed all over Emnes but the referee Mike Riley waved play on.
Friedel saved well from Hoyte on 39 minutes after Emnes had beaten Cuellar. Emnes was again involved in the action on 41 minutes when he found himself in the area but he took too long on the ball and wasted the opportunity to put Boro 2-0 up. Neat build-up play between Davies and Petrov just before half time found Heskey in space on the right wing but his cross went high and wide. It summed up Villa’s abysmal first half showing. Villa lacked determination and many of the players looked as if they were already on their summer holidays.
There was a scrappy start to the second half, and indiscipline was starting to get the better of Villa. Barry and Milner both found themselves booked for late challenges. Villa began to gradually come back into the game and were casing a few panics in the Boro defence. On 54 minutes, Ashley Young found Cuellar at the back-post and he headed it back across goal but no-one in a claret and blue shirt could finish off. Barry and Cuellar were involved in the action a minute later as Villa looked to draw level.
On 56 minutes, Villa grabbed their equalizer. A slip from King allowed Carew to control and pick his spot past Jones in the Boro goal. The goal gave Villa a lift and Petrov burst forward on 57 minutes but fluffed his shot as the goal opened up for him.
Ashley Young should’ve done much better on 61 minutes. He found himself clear and in with a chance of a goal but the Villa winger lacked composure and allowed the ball to trickle away from danger. King rolled Cuellar on 65 minutes but couldn’t get any power on his shot as Boro looked for the all-important second goal. The game was now end to end with both sides looking for three points for entirely different reasons.
ON 76 minutes, Tuncay’s free kick hit the Villa wall but returned to the player who hit a spectacular effort over the bar. Barry played Agbonlahor through on 78 minutes but with just Jones to beat, he again lacked conviction and composure and his effort was easily saved.
Boro began to run out of steam in the closing minutes but Villa were unable to make them pay and the match finished 1-1 with Boro travelling to West Ham on the final day of the season needing a miracle. Villa entertain Newcastle at Villa Park in a fixture that could see a second North-East side relegated from the top flight of English football.
Villa Ratings:
Brad Fridel - 6 - Good save from Hoyte in first half. Had little else to do.
James Milner - 4 - Out of his depth at right-back. Exposed.
Nicky Shorey - 5 - Lightweight.
Curtis Davies - 7 - Improved performance from a player who has been struggling with a shoulder injury since January.
Carlos Cuellar - 6 - One or two shaky moments but I felt he was reasonably comfortable today.
Gareth Barry - 7 - A decent second half showing. Became more involved in the game and did at least try and create something.
Stilyan Petrov - 5 - Looked tired and off the pace today.
Emile Heskey - 4 - Woeful. Please tell Martin O’Neill he is not a right winger.
John Carew - 6 - Does what he gets paid for - goalscoring. Took his goal very well.
Gabriel Agbonlahor - 5 - Always an outlet with his pace but his finishing was dreadful today. Confidence and composure are just not there.
Ashley Young - 6 - Up and down afternoon for the Villa winger. His head drops when things don’t go his way and you could sense his frustration at times.
Subs:
Nigel Reo-Coker - 6 - Average.
Crowd: 8 - Villa fans in good voice despite not selling out their allocation
Manager Watch:
Martin O’Neill - 5 - What was he thinking by playing Milner at right-back and Heskey on the wing? Tactically he’s all over the place in recent months. At least he did seem to raise the boys at half time after that horror show first 45 minutes. But his signing of Heskey is already looking to be a big mistake.
