Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1

MALCOLM CHRISTIE'S first goal for 21 months earned Boro a share of the spoils this afternoon, writes GORDON COX from Villa Park.

With Stewart Downing again unavailable with a groin strain and Andrew Davies still suffering after being kicked last week, manager Gareth Southgate took the opportunity to make changes in both personnel and formation.

Abel Xavier started for the first time since completing a ban and being given a second chance with Boro - ironically Xavier's last game, over 13 months ago, was also at Villa Park.

There was a rare start for Christie, just his 13th in four seasons, as Southgate elected to start with a 3-5-2 formation, James Morrison, Julio Arca and captain George Boateng starting in central midfield.

Villa were without Chris Sutton through injury, while Peter Whittingham dropped to the bench to bench as Stiliyan Petrov and Gavin McCann returned.

There was a bright start to the game with Boro looking comfortable with their new set up in the early exchanges.

They almost created a chance with just three minutes played but Morrison's ball to Christie was slightly overhit.

Villa, though, settled quickly and Gareth Barry was not far wide with a powerful drive from 25 yards.

While play was open, quality was missing with the final ball from both sides and as a result chances were limited.

Pace and precision helped Villa create one midway through the first half as Olof Mellberg crossed from the right, Juan Pablo Angel headed back to Isaiah Osbourne, who headed for goal from 12 yards, Mark Schwarzer making a comfortable, if spectacular-looking save.

Runs from Christie caused problems for the Villa rearguard and gave options to Boro's midfield. Xavier tackled crisply and the visitors looked better than they had done away from home since the opening half of the opening game of the season.

But two chances in a minute for Villa sharpened the focus of the defence as a superbly struck Wilfred Bouma effort from 30 yards had Schwarzer scrambling to concede a corner.

Back they came and a low cross from Barry set up Gary Cahill with a simple chance which he overcomplicated in front of an open goal and the ball went out for a goal kick. A simple touch would have brought a goal, Cahill seemed to attempt an unnecessary flick.

Three minutes from the break Malcolm Christie showed how it should be done as Boro moved inside the Villa area, Arca fed Yakubu who picked out his fellow striker and despite appeals for offside he turned sharply just inside the six-yard box to crack a good shot past Thomas Sorensen to record his first goal for 21 months.

But two minutes into injury time Villa were handed a way back into the game when Schwarzer was adjudged to have brought down Petrov inside the penalty area. The linesman didn't signal for a penalty, that was given by referee Peter Walton in a worse position, and Gareth Barry drilled a left-footed drive down the middle to equalise with Villa's eighth penalty of the season.

Half-time: Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1

There was a lively start to the second half with both sides having goals disallowed for fouls on Schwarzer and Sorensen and Yakubu bringing a save from the Villa goalkeeper with a low drive from eight yards.

Two yellow cards and two substitutions kept officials busy and Gabriel Agbonlahor ought to have done better than to head straight at Schwarzer when presented with a free chance on the edge of the six-yard box.

Mellberg was inches away with a header a few minutes later as Villa began to exert some pressure.

But breaking well and through good work from Andrew Taylor Boro created a chance on the edge of the Villa box but a low drive from Yakubu was blocked and deflected out of harm's way.

Villa were forced to change Sorensen for Stuart Taylor with 20 minutes remaining, the Dane appearing to have problems with his right knee.

Christie made way for Massimo Maccarone with 15 minutes to go but it was Yakubu who caused a problem with a drive from 23 yards which was headed away by Liam Ridgewell, even though the effort was only a couple of feet off the floor.

Entering the final 10 minutes Milan Baros, a 61st-minute replacement for Angel, volleyed inches wide from the edge of the penalty area but it took a goal-line clearance from Arca to save the day after Schwarzer had failed to gather a left-wing cross five minutes from time.

But Boro wasted a chance to snatch what may have proved to be the winner four minutes from time as Cattermole rose to meet a Maccarone free-kick but headed wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Aston Villa: Sorensen (Taylor 70); Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Osbourne (Davis 61), Petrov, Barry (Capt), McCann, Angel (Baros 61). Unused subs: Whittingham, Hughes.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Huth, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Xavier, Morrison (Cattermole 83), Boateng (Capt) Arca, Taylor, Christie (Maccarone 75) Yakubu. Unused subs: Jones (gk); Parnaby, Euell.

Referee: Peter Walton, Northamptonshire.

Bookings

Aston Villa: Barry 37, dissent.

Middlesbrough: Pogatetz, 56, foul; Huth, 60, foul.

Attendance: 33,612

Conditions: Bright with a gentle breeze at kick-off, quite cold.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Malcolm Christie