Barry spot-on to deny Boro

Gareth Barry's controversial penalty earned Aston Villa a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

Gareth Barry's controversial penalty earned Aston Villa a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. Barry struck 16 minutes from time to cancel out Stewart Downing's fine first-half opener. The penalty award was harsh on Boro with referee Steve Bennett adjudging that Luke Young had handled Ashley Young's shot inside the box even though the ball appeared to strike his elbow as Young turned his back on the ball. The draw dents Villa's bid to qualify for Europe as they remain in sixth, while, Boro's performance was the perfect response to their shock FA Cup exit to Cardiff at the weekend. Southgate was given the perfect reponse by his players to that shock cup reversal and Boro could have wrapped the game up with steadier finishing before the Barry spot-kick. Former Villa midfielder George Boateng was effective in a defensive midfield role although he lost his cool for a spell after being booked when preventing Olof Mellberg from taking a free-kick late on in this Barclays Premier League game. Boro started the brighter of the two sides and Mido missed a good chance to put them in front early on. Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson did well to come off his line and block a left-footed effort from Tuncay but the rebound fell to Mido - who put his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Opener

Mohamed Shawky curled a 20-yard effort just over the bar and it came as no surprise when Downing gave Boro the lead after 23 minutes with his seventh goal of the campaign after a mistake by the recalled Zat Knight. The Villa defender sent his pass straight into the path of the England winger who cut into the area before beating Carson with a low shot into the corner of the net. Shawky was certainly in the thick of the action and he was only a couple of feet wide with a fierce 25-yard drive which beat the dive of Carson after former Villa midfielder George Boateng had teed up the chance. Villa came close to equalising three minutes before the interval when a shot from John Carew was cleared off the line by Mido following a young free-kick. When the ball came back to the Norwegian international, he sent his header over the bar. It was a rare moment of hope for Villa and Boro were soon back on the offensive with Mido heading over at close range from a O'Neil free-kick.

Changes

O'Neill reacted to his side's inept first half performance by bringing on striker Marlon Harewood and fit again defender Olof Mellberg in place of Maloney and Gardner. But Mido squandered a golden opportunity to double Boro's lead after 51 minutes. Downing's low cross from the left flank found the Egyptian international unmarked 10 yards out with the goal gaping but he fired over the bar. With 17 minutes Barry levelled from the spot - harshly as Young had his back to the ball when it struck his hand and prompted Bennett to award a penalty. Mido and Schwarzer were both booked for dissent before the penalty was converted by the England midfielder, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.