ASTON VILLA have been doing a spot of self examination lately. Brian Little, two years into his managership and a third of the way into a season not living up to last, told his players: "Look in the mirror. Don't blame anybody else."

The shock did not quite prepare them for Wimbledon last week but selfless endeavour there and on Saturday reflected their understanding of the collective purpose. "Having a group, keeping them - happy, working together, accepting decisions - that's the modern game," said Little after a spot of good fortune had given them victory. Dwight Yorke, tumbling on the turn under Neil Cox's challenge, was allowed to score from the penalty. Disappointment at seventh place is a measure of Little's ambition.

Accepting decisions has never come easily to Middlesrough's manager Bryan Robson. "Even the Villa fans didn't appeal," he said. "The referee made it difficult for us in the second half. Everyone says decisions even out over a season. We're owed quite a few at the moment."

On the hour Yorke's free kick hit a self defensive arm in the wall. The previous week Middlesbrough got an equalising penalty for this against Manchester United. None was awarded here.

A goal in open play was unthinkable. The first valid shot on goal was Phil Stamp's after 73 minutes and Andy Townsend then had a better one turned away by Gary Walsh. Otherwise the goalkeepers were untroubled.

The defending around Derek Whyte and Steve Staunton respectively was superb and the game was played almost exclusively on the ground, but the crossing was abysmal, as so often from wingbacks who are more backs than wings. Each side could count one decent centre cross, from Mikkel Beck and Townsend.

With five across the middle, Villa's square dancing was pretty but not penetrative and, though Savo Milosevic has made up his mind to stay, team mates were still not sure of his intentions on the field.

Emerson was completing his suspension and now Middlesbrough may have lost Juninho who was bookably fouled by Alan Wright and suffered a twisted ankle. Fabrizio Ravanelli, at £7 million, was embarrassing, his shoulders drooping at the least imperfection in a colleague, particularly Beck.