Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 2:STEVE SIDWELL is unlikely to forget his first Premier League start in an Aston Villa shirt. Having scored his team's first-half equaliser - his first in front of his home fans - he committed a horrendous late mistake which let Tuncay Sanli in to score his second goal and condemn Villa to another galling league defeat to accompany the dismal one at Newcastle a week ago.
This was an opportunity missed for a club with lofty ambitions. Before kick-off there was a buzz of excitement around the ground, the fans basking in the afterglow of Thursday's accomplished win at Slavia Prague that put them top of their Uefa Cup group and aware that victory here would lift them into a Champions League place.
Two hours later the buzz had turned to boos as Villa remained fifth, with Arsenal and Manchester United next to face. It is a fixture list that has forced Villa to play seven punishing games in 23 days and there were obvious signs of fatigue.
Previously they had taken 10 points from the five league games following Thursday-night Uefa Cup ties but Sidwell's late error was symptomatic of a wider malaise which affected this one-paced performance.
Although the manager, Martin O'Neill, made five changes from the side fielded in the Czech Republic they missed the physical presence of striker John Carew, who failed a fitness test.
In their left-winger, Stewart Downing, Middlesbrough had the outstanding player as he exploited the unfamiliarity of Carlos Cuellar with the right-back position.
On three occasions he troubled Villa's goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, with his long-range shooting and it was one of his crosses that led to the opening goal, Nicky Shorey mistiming his clearance and Tuncay capitalising to drill the ball into the bottom corner.
Middlesbrough's right-back, Justin Hoyte, was equally troubled, insufficiently protected by his right-winger as Ashley Young and James Milner took it in turns to attack that flank. One such raid produced a quick equaliser, Milner sending a cross to the back post where Sidwell, offering thrust from midfield throughout, jumped over Downing to head home.
• Guardian Service
