Aston Villa 3 Middlesbrough 0 - Report

Goals from Anwar El Ghazi, John McGinn and Albert Adomah ensured Dean Smith’s team eased to a fourth straight victory and their first at home over Boro for 14 years.

El Ghazi fired past goalkeeper Darren Randolph after collecting McGinn’s crossfield pass to open the scoring.

McGinn then put the finishing touches on a fine team move to double the lead before substitute Adomah struck late against his former club.

Analysis

The winger’s 88th minute strike ensured the final score was the same as when the two clubs met on the Riverside back on December 1.

Just as then, Villa were convincing winners, proving far too hot for the Championship’s best defence to handle.

Boro have conceded just 31 goals in 38 league fixtures. Villa have scored six of them and perhaps the only disappointment was that they have not netted more on both occasions.

The result looked inevitable once El Ghazi had pierced a stubborn Boro defence.

McGinn, who created the opener with an excellent crossfield ball, then netted the second in an excellent individual performance, taking his goal tally to three in two games.

Boro, who have now lost three straight, simply had no answer. They remain fifth but Villa now sit just one point behind and are closing fast.

Glenn Whelan replaced Conor Hourihane in the only change from the team which won 3-1 at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

The strength of the wind was highlighted by the ball twice rolling off the centre spot prior to kick-off and the conditions almost helped Villa take a first-minute lead.

A Kortney Hause punt forward, carried a few extra yards in the gusts, proved too tough for Ryan Shotton to control. El Ghazi pounced on the loose ball and whipped in a cross which McGinn headed just over the bar.

That set the scene for a predictable opening with Villa dominating possession and Boro content to sit back and soak up the pressure.

The visitors were at times playing six at the back, with John Obi Mikel sat deep in front of the defence.

Villa initially lacked the precision required to break them down but all it needed was one moment of magic from McGinn to change that.

Andre Green put a foot in to win the ball off George Friend and it richocheted to McGinn, who hit a first time crossfield pass right into the path of El Ghazi.

The Dutchman stayed composed and took a touch before rolling a finish beyond Randolph and into the bottom corner.

Things quickly got worse for Boro when they were forced into a change, with Shotton replaced by Stewart Downing.

The former Villa winger at least provided them with an attacking outlet and he set up their first chance of the game, with Friend firing his cross straight at Jed Steer in the Villa goal.

But Villa were still on top and doubled their lead a minute before the break, courtesy of a terrific team goal.

Neil Taylor started the move with a pass down the left flank which Grealish deftly flicked inside Aden Flint.

Villa’s skipper then passed infield before being tackled late by Mikel but with referee Darren Bond playing advantage, Abraham dummied the ball allowing McGinn to race on and blast a finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

El Ghazi went close to grabbing his second and Villa’s third early in the second half when he collected a pass from Grealish and sent a finish wide of the far post.

Boro then had to rely on a fine piece of defending by Aden Flint, who threw himself in front of an El Ghazi shot after the winger had raced fully 50 yards into the box.

Abraham, working tirelessly up front, then went close with a volley which was deflected up and just over the bar, before sending a shot just wide of the target from the edge of the box.

The on loan Chelsea man was forced off with injury just past the 70-minute mark, putting a dampener on an otherwise excellent day for the hosts.

Smith introduced both Jonathan Kodjia and Keinan Davis off the bench, with the latter having a big hand in the third.

His shot from the edge of the box proved too hot for Randolph to handle, with Adomah blasting home the loose ball from close range.

Key Moments

28 - GOAL Villa make the breakthrough. John McGinn whips a great crossfield ball to El Ghazi, who slides a finish under Randolph.

44 - GOAL Villa double their lead with a superb move. Jack Grealish shows great skill to beat the full-back, his pass is then dummied by Tammy Abraham allowing McGinn to race onto the ball and blast it beyond Randolph from the edge of the box.

88 - GOAL Albert Adomah increases the misery for Boro, tapping home from close range after Randolph can only parry Keinan Davis’s shot.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Steer, Elmohamady, Hause, Mings, Taylor, McGinn, Whelan, Grealish, Green (Adomah 64), Abraham (Kodjia 72), El Ghazi (Davis) Subs not used: Carroll, Jedinak, Bjarnason, Kalinic (gk).

Boro (5-4-1): Randolph, Shotton (Downing 32), Ayala, Flint, Fry, Friend, Mikel, Howson, Wing (Assombalonga 49), Saville, Hugill (Fletcher 62) Subs not used: Clayton, McNair, Besic, Dimi (gk).