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  • Tuncay (14)
  • Carew (57)
  • Date:2009-05-16
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:The Riverside Stadium
  • Attendance:27621
  • Referee:Riley, M

Live Commentary

90mins

Full time: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-1 ASTON VILLA: Carew cancels out Tuncay’s opener – and almost certainly contributes to Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League.

90mins

Johnson can't keep the ball in as he races down the touchline on his way to goal.

90mins

The fourth official signals there will be 4minutes of added time.

89mins

Milner blasts a long range shot into the Boro crowd.

86mins

Heskey blazes a shot over the Boro goal from six yards out. He should have scored.

84mins

Milner's low cross goes behind Carew and out for a throw-in to Boro.

82mins

Tuncay almost gives Boro the lead with a looping header that grazes the cross bar.

80mins

Wheater drives forward and takes a shot that deflects off Davies for a corner to Boro.

77mins

Agbonlahor forces a decent save from Jones after being set up by Barry.

75mins

Tuncay shoots high over the bar from 25 yards out.

73mins

Another scramble in the Boro box almost ends with a second Villa goal but Jones manages to smother the ball.

72mins

Barry's cross deflects off Bates and trickles out for a corner.

71mins

O'Neil limps off the field and is replaced by Walker.

70mins

Young makes way for Reo-Coker.

70mins

Wheater does well to clear the danger after Milner fired in a dipping cross.

68mins

Wheater goes in late on Heskey 30yards from goal. Free kick to Villa.

66mins

King takes a shot from the edge of the box but the ball flies well wide of the Villa goal.

64mins

Great save by Jones. The ball bounced over Wheater and Young raced towards goal but the Boro keeper raced off his line to deny the Villa winger.

62mins

King bursts clear for Boro but Davies comes across to hack the ball clear from him.

60mins

Boro have got half an hour to make sure they don't drop out of the Premier League today.

57mins

MIDDLESBROUGH 1-1 ASTON VILLA: CAREW shoots home after a goalmouth scramble in the Boro box.

56mins

Barry slices his shot wide of the target after Cuellar knocked it down to him.

53mins

Milner follows his captain into the book for a late challenge on Johnson.

52mins

Barry goes into the book for a foul on Emnes.

50mins

O'Neil is brought down by Young. Free kick to Boro.

47mins

Boro have started strongly. Emnes and Johnson exchange passes on the edge of the area but Cuellar just manages to clear.

45mins

Villa get the second half under way.

45mins

Half time: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 ASTON VILLA: A wonder goal by Tuncay gives Boro a deserved first half lead.

45mins

Jones comes out to collect a cross from Shorey.

43mins

Johnson finds Emnes in the Villa box but the striker hesitated and Friedel made the save.

41mins

Clever play by Emnes sets up Hoyte but his shot is well saved by Friedel.

40mins

Hoyte gets forward to unleash a low shot that deflects off Cuellar.

38mins

Young is forced to concede a corner after a good run by O'Neil.

36mins

Jones does well to collect a low cross from Barry.

34mins

Barry gets above Tuncay to head clear a dangerous O'Neil cross.

32mins

Johnson scampers down the left wing but is brought down by Milner. Free kick to Boro.

30mins

Heskey leans on Huth and fouls the Boro centre back. Free kick to the home side.

28mins

O'Neil and Emnes combine well on the edge of the Villa box but the move breaks down and Young clears.

26mins

O'Neil is blocked on his way to goal and Davies gets the ball to safety.

23mins

Downing leaves the field on a stretcher and is given a standing ovation by the Boro fans. It might the last time home supporters see him in a Boro shirt. King comes on in his place.

21mins

The goal seems to have knocked the wind out of Villa and the pace of the game has dropped off.

18mins

It looked like King was going to replace Downing but the Boro skipper is carrying on.

16mins

A worrying sight for Boro fans. Downing has gone down in a heap and it looks like it could be the end of his game.

14mins

MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 ASTON VILLA: What a goal! TUNCAY'S overhead kick from Downing's cross gives Boro the lead.

11mins

A great ball from Barry finds Carew but his shot is comfortaby saved by Jones.

9mins

Tuncay throws himself at a shot from O'Neil but the ball flies high over the bar. Difficult chance.

7mins

Emnes turns Cuellar before driving a shot against Davies.

5mins

Johnson finds Tuncay but the Boro striker hits a wayward shot wide of the target.

3mins

Arca does well to rob the ball from Agbonlahor and clears his lines.

1mins

Good early pressure by Boro. Downing fired a shot across the Villa box that Barry almost knocked into his own net. Corner to the home side.

0mins

Referee Mike Riley gets the game under way.

0mins

The teams are out for this crucial game. Boro must win to avoid relegation while Villa need three points to fend off Everton in their quest to secure fifth.

0mins

Aston Villa: Friedel, Milner, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Ashley Young, Petrov, Barry, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey

0mins

Gareth Barry has recovered from an illness to skipper Aston Villa at The Riverside. Carlos Cuellar comes in for Luke Young, who has a foot problem.

0mins

Middlesbrough: Jones, Bates, Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil, Adam Johnson, Arca, Downing, Sanli, Emnes

0mins

Gareth Southgate brings David Wheater back into his starting line-up for this must win game. Boro need three points to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

Match Preview

Middlesbrough face a must-win game at home to Aston Villa, having slipped to the brink of relegation by losing 3-1 at Newcastle United last Monday.

Boro are three points adrift of the safety mark with just two games to play, with boss Gareth Southgate admitting that his side were now in a major hole.

He said: "We are in a very difficult situation now.

"It's out of our hands. We've got two games left and we have to do what we can. But things have conspired against us just when we needed something to go our way."

The loss at St James' Park also came at the expense of a foot injury to Afonso Alves, with the striker's season over thanks to a challenge from Nicky Butt.

A knee problem has also ended skipper Emanuel Pogatetz's campaign, while fellow centre-back David Wheater is a major doubt due to a similar injury and Didier Digard (groin) is also set to miss out.

Hope for Boro comes with the knowledge that visitors Villa have suffered a major collapse of form in recent weeks, putting an end to any hope of Champions League qualification.

Martin O'Neill's side have won only one of their last 11 league games and are in danger of being overhauled by Everton for fifth place.

Last time out the Villains were well beaten 3-1 at Fulham, with O'Neill admitting: "It wasn't that we were disappointing from start to finish, but by our own standards we had a desperately poor second half. We never got into it.

"You would not have believed we had sat in the top six all season by our second-half performance.

"It is a tough old season and there are a few lessons to be learned and we need a squad capable of dealing with not only domestic football, but European ventures."


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Match Report

Ailing Middlesbrough's survival battle will be decided on the final day of the Premier League season.

It is possible that the Teessiders could pull off the Great Escape, but the odds are firmly stacked against them.

They now realistically face the prospect of life in the Championship after 11 consecutive seasons in the top-flight.

Turkey international Sanli Tuncay raised their hopes with a brilliant goal early in the game, but Aston Villa hit back to level through John Carew in the second half.

Middlesbrough began the game in desperate need of three points against a side they beat last November.

Tuncay celebrated his player of the year award before the kick-off with a splendid goal after 14 minutes.

Tuncay beat Brad Friedel with an overhead kick to give the home side a tremendous fillip.

After 30 minutes, however, Middlesbrough suffered a cruel blow when skipper Stewart Downing was brought down heavily by a Stiliyan Petrov tackle.

Downing immediately signalled that he was hurt and play was held up for several minutes while he received treatment.

Downing limped to the touchline for further treatment and returned after a few minutes' absence.

But it was obvious he could not continue and there was the sad sight of a local hero being stretchered off.

The England international could be transferred in the summer and Middlesbrough fans recognise this.

With the prospect that they could have seen his last appearance in a Boro shirt, the £15million-rated winger was given a standing ovation.

It was proof of the popularity of a player, who put aside transfer thoughts to play a part in the club's survival battle.

Villa were very disappointing in the first half. There was no threat in attack and manager Martin O'Neill must have been bitterly disappointed with the performance of his team.

There was no doubt O'Neill had delivered a dressing room rollicking and his players emerged a stronger team.

The question was could Middlesbrough hold on to their lead to keep survival hopes.

Villa, however, began to play with more determination with skipper Gareth Barry and James Milner both booked for fouls in the space of minute.

The Midlands club then drew level to round off determined pressure. Carew took advantage of a bad clearance by substitute Marlon King to score his 14th goal of the season.

Shortly after, Villa had a chance to take the lead when central defender David Wheater misjudged the flight of the ball.

Ashley Young darted forward but goalkeeper Brad Jones retrieved the situation by diving at his feet.

But overall it was a fair result as Middlesbrough played the better football in the first half before Villa improved after the break.

Middlesbrough

Aston Villa

Corners

69

Fouls

1116

Goal attempts

108

Shots off target

42

Offsides

43

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