Premiership: Boro beat Villa

Middlesbrough 2, Aston Villa 1 (full-time)

Former Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu put his old club to the sword to head Middlesbrough to a second successive victory.

The England international powered home a Benito Carbone corner on 64 minutes to restore his side’s lead after Juan Pablo Angel had cancelled out the Italian’s first-half opener.

Boro had to defend on 70 minutes when Crouch controlled Hadji’s cross on his chest but was denied a shooting opportunity by Robbie Stockdale’s brave challenge.

But they went close to extending their lead two minutes later when Wilkshire took Johnston’s cross on his chest and fired in a shot from a narrow angle which Schmeichel could not afford to ignore.

Villa continued to press for a second equaliser as time ran down, with England striker Darius Vassell having replaced Hadji, but Boro were growing in confidence all the time and it was they who looked the more likely to add to their tally.

Schwarzer had to be in the right place at the right time with two minutes remaining when Crouch again got his head to a Barry cross but could not beat the keeper.