Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 3 - Report and pictures

Skipper James Chester set Dean Smith’s men on their way to a fourth win in five games when he netted from close range.

In-form striker Tammy Abraham then gave Villa breathing room when he scored his seventh goal in four games after the break.

Jordan Hugill hit the bar for the hosts before substitute Glenn Whelan put the result beyond doubt, with just his second goal in seven years.

Analysis

In truth, the Republic of Ireland international got a big helping hand from home keeper Darren Randolph who, having also been at fault for Chester’s opener, allowed his 20-yard shot to squirm under his body.

But the final scoreline only reflected Villa’s dominance on an evening when they became the first team to put three goals past the Championship’s meanest defence.

Boro went into the match having conceded only 10 all season but were given a torrid time by Villa’s attacking trio of Abraham, Yannick Bolasie and Anwar El Ghazi.

Randolph had already brilliantly denied Abraham and Villa been denied a penalty before Chester broke the deadlock.

Villa have now scored 15 goals in their last four games, including six in their last two away fixtures.

Even more pleasing for Smith, after a week which saw his team concede seven in their previous two games, will be the clean sheet. Barring a couple of nervy moments, Villa’s defence was comfortable against Boro’s pedestrian attack, while much-criticised keeper Orjan Nyland also got a touch on Hugill’s late effort, pushing it onto the bar.

The result keeps Villa eighth in the table but more importantly ensured they remain just three points behind the top six, ahead of Friday’s night’s trip to Albion.

Alan Hutton’s suspension after picking up a fifth booking of the season in the 5-5 midweek thriller with Nottingham Forest, meant a first start for Ahmed Elmohamady since Villa’s 1-0 defeat at QPR back in October.

Smith also made one tactical change, with El Ghazi replacing Jonathan Kodjia in attack. It was the Dutch winger’s first start since September and his first with Smith at the helm.

Abraham’s four-goal haul against Forest had taken his tally for the season to 10 and he would have increased it further early on here, were it not for an excellent Randolph save.

The keeper got down sharply to his left after Abraham had deftly redirected Bolasie’s cross toward the bottom corner.

Boro were then fortunate not to concede a spot-kick when Abraham went down under the challenge of Friend. Replays clearly showed the home skipper had caught the striker inside the box but referee Andy Davies waved play on.

Villa remained undeterred and took the lead in the 20th minute, as Chester netted his fourth of the campaign.

Randolph was at fault, aiming a punch at Grealish’s corner but entirely missing. The ball ricocheted between Chester and Dael Fry, with the Villa man able to react quickest to force it over the line.

The visitors were brimming with confidence, a point emphasised by El Ghazi, who glided past two defenders, before sending a shot over the bar.

In contrast, Boro looked pedestrian in attack, with the biggest scare for Villa prior to the break entirely of their own making.

Nyland, who entered the game under scrutiny following a questionable showing against Forest, missed George Friend’s cross from the left-wing. With a panicked Villa struggling to clear their lines, they had a moment of fortune when Stewart Downing’s shot hit team-mate Hugill, who was in an offside position.

The words of Pulis no doubt ringing in their ears, Boro pushed forward at the start of the second half but were unable to create anything in the way of chances.

Instead it was Villa who continued to look the more threatening on the counter, with Bolasie smashing the ball across the face of goal.

The second goal came after the hosts again switched off at a corner. When Bolasie moved into space on the edge of the box, John McGinn found him and it was Abraham, sliding in, who converted the resulting cross to give Villa breathing space.

Boro continued to huff and puff but it took a brilliant save from Nyland to prevent them getting back into it 10 minutes from time. The Norwegian international got the slightest of touches on Hugill’s shot to push it on to the bar.

Three minutes later Whelan sealed the game with just his second touch after coming off the bench.

Fellow sub Scott Hogan started the move, bursting into the box. When his cross was pushed out by Randolph, the ball was eventually worked to Whelan, whose shot from 20 yards out squirmed under the body of the keeper and in off the post.

Key Moments

20 GOAL James Chester puts Villa in front, stabbing home his fourth of the season from close range after Darren Randolph misses his punch on Jack Grealish’s corner.

64 GOAL Tammy Abraham bags his 11th of the season and sixth in a week, sliding in to convert Yannick Bolasie’s cross at close range.

83 GOAL Glenn Whelan seals the points for Villa as his shot squirms under Randolph.

Teams

Boro (4-3-3): Randolph, Fry (McNair 59), Flint, Batth, Friend, Howson, Clayton, Besic (Assombalonga 62), Downing, Hugill, Tavernier (Braithwaite 62) Subs not used: Ayala, Saville, Wing, Dimi (gk).

Villa (4-3-3): Nyland, Elmohamady, Tuanzebe, Chester, Taylor, Hourihane, Grealish, McGinn (Whelan 82), Bolasie (Kodjia 73), Abraham (Hogan 82), El Ghazi Subs not used: Revan, Jedinak, O'Hare, Bunn (gk)