Martin O’Neill admitted Villa players ‘didn’t create enough’ chances after watching his side draw 1-1 against Middlesbrough.

At least he breathed a sigh of relief as Villa came from a goal down to secure a point.

But he knew it a faltering performance and reckoned Villa gave away possession too cheaply.

“Throughout the game and, particularly in the first half, we didn’t create enough.

“You can have spells of 10 or 15 minutes like that in any game, but we just never got going and that was our problem.

“When we did have possession we gave it away too easily and I don’t think you can afford to do that in this league.”

He added: “I’m not just going to put this down to a ‘bad night at the office’. While it can be a mistake to over-analyse things, I know we have to do better than that.

“It would be too easy to brush this to one side – we have to play better. This was an opportunity for us which we didn’t take.”

O’Neill admits he was hoping Gareth Barry’s penalty would prove the catalyst for a return to winning form.

“Gareth showed some character from the penalty spot, considering he missed one a couple of weeks ago at Reading,” said the boss.

“I was delighted to have got the goal and was hoping that would be the spur for us to go on and get a victory. That didn’t materialise.”

The manager is hoping Villa can put things right on Saturday when they travel to Portsmouth.

“I’m pleased we’re back in action so quickly,” he said. “It’s feast-or-famine time at the moment and after quite a wait for a game, we’ve got two in four days.

“Portsmouth won last night and won very well. So Saturday is a big game for us.”

And O’Neill voiced his concern when he added: “The crowd tried to get us going once or twice, but it was really up to us to provide the spark and we didn’t do that.”

Boro boss and former Villa captain Gareth Southgate was disgusted with the penalty.

“I’ve seen the incident again and our lad had his back to the play,” said Southgate.

“It was hit from a couple of yards away and it hit him and if you’re not looking at the ball, I don’t see how it can be anything but involuntary handball.

“I’m bitterly disappointed for my players because they were outstanding.”