Substitute Emile Heskey’s 86th-minute goal got Villa out of jail as they snatched a plucky point in wild conditions at Burnley.

Steven Caldwell’s early goal had given the Clarets a deserved lead in driving rain and wind at Turf Moor but Heskey, on the field just six minutes, stole in at the back post to convert James Milner’s cross forhis first goal of the season.

Villa, who handed a second-half debut to Stewart Downing, struggled against the lively Lancashire club for long periods but for once itwas Martin O’Neill’s men who grabbed a late goal to ensure their Champions League charge maintained momentum.

O’Neill made one change from the side which thrashed Bolton afortnight ago, with Stiliyan Petrov replacing Nigel Reo-Coker in themidfield.James Collins was deemed unfit to play.

His absence was offsetby the surprise inclusion of fit-again Downing among the substitutes, for the first time since his £10m summer move from Middlesbrough.

The game began at a frenetic pace but it was from the game’s firstreal chance that the Clarets took a ninth-minute lead.

There was certainly an element of fortune about the goal with Caldwell appearing clearly offside before he got in between Richard Dunne and Brad Friedel to head into the empty net.

The home side seized control and it could easily have been two courtesy of a slick move which saw Chris Eagles’ cross from the right brought down superbly by Steven Fletcher.

The striker laid off to Andre Bikey only for the ex-Reading man to volley narrowly wide.

Villa produced a rare counter when Milner threaded through Ashley Young and his cross was sliced narrowly past his own post by Clarke Carlisle.

Bikey should have done better when rising unmarked to meet a RobbieBlake corner on the half-hour mark only to head well wide of the post.

Villa struggled to match the Clarets’ high-tempo game but their bestopportunity of the half came five minutes before the break.

Unsurprisingly, the jet-heeled Gabby Agbonlahor beat Brian Jensen to the ball on the left edge of the area, he cut back to Ashley Young but, with the Clarets keeper in no man’s land, the Villa winger couldonly curl a yard over the bar.

The second half began at breakneck speed with Agbonlahor a whiskeraway from sending John Carew clean through with a threaded pass and on 52 Burnley full-back Tyrone Mears’ 20-yard free-kick flashed past thepost after Carlos Cuellar had fouled Fletcher.

A minute later Villa had a golden chance of their own when a long puntupfield from Friedel was flicked on to send Agbonlahor clean throughbut his effort was tipped superbly around the post by Jensen.

Friedel has to be at his best to beat away a 25-yard piledriver fromBlake while, down the other end, the unmarked Steve Sidwell failed toconnect with a teasing free-kick from Ashley Young.

It was to be Sidwell’s final involvement as made for Downing to makehis claret and blue bow after 69 minutes.

But it was Burnley who initially continued to carve the betteropenings – Friedel producing another fine save to keep out adelightful curling effort from Fletcher.

Downing’s introduction added fresh impetus, however, and it was from his initial corner that the equaliser arrived.

The ball was headed back out to Milner wide on the right and hispinpoint cross to the back post was nodded home by Heskey to send theVilla faithful home happy.