Tuncay gives Boro Turkish delight
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last four games since losing 5-0 to Chelsea
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Sunday, 09, Nov 2008 09:17
Aston Villa have suffered their second league defeat in a week after going down 2-1 to Middlesbrough at Vila Park.
Tuncay Sanli scored his second of the match two minutes from time to seal victory for Boro, while Steve Sidwell netted for Villa.
The defeat sees Martin O'Neill's men remain in fifth spot while Boro are up to tenth position.
The opening exchanges provided little entertainment although Ashley Young felt he should have been awarded a penalty when Ashley Young tumbled in the box but referee Rob Styles waved play on.
Young was a constant threat and came close to breaking the deadlock with a 25-yard free-kick that Ross Turnbull tipped over the bar.
Boro's best chance fell to Afonso Alves who failed to properly connect with Stewart Downing's inviting cross from the left.
And it was Downing who was the provider for the visitors' opener with his cross falling to Tuncay who rifled the ball into the net on 34 minutes.
But their lead lasted all of three minutes as James Milner's cross was headed in by Sidwell for his second goal for Villa to make it 1-1.
Alves was again wasteful for the home side on the stroke of half-time after slicing a left-foot shot wide after a flowing move.
Villa sprung out of the blocks in the second half with Gabriel Agbonlahor's strike from an angle blocked by Turnbull, while Milner's effort from eight yards was blocked by the keeper's legs.
Alves afternoon continued to get worse as he fired wide from six yards out when Brad Friedel spilled Didier Digard's shot before being hauled off by Gareth Southgate.
Tuncay showed his strike partner how to finish on 88 minutes when he ran onto Sidwell's woeful back pass and lashed his shot past Friedel to seal the three points for Boro.