Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 1

May 17 2009 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

On reflection, it was Boro’s inability to cope with Stewart Downing’s early departure due to an ankle injury that robbed them of this victory.

The winger has not always been at his best this season, but he was showing signs of bouncing back from an insipid derby day display with some sparkling early touches.

By the time he was forced off in agony after Stilyan Petrov stood on his ankle, he had already set up a chance for Julio Arca and played a big part in the build-up to Tunçay’s stunning opening goal.

But Petrov’s late and cynical challenge on the England midfielder left him writhing in agony - and brought a premature and unsatisfactory end to what is likely to be his final home game for Boro.

Downing made a stirring effort to continue but collapsed in a heap a couple of minutes after the injury, resigned to an early exit. The crowd reacted with a standing ovation, but it still felt like a sad way to conclude business on his own turf.

He could still be back to play in Boro’s top-flight denouement next Sunday – but given the club’s run of bad luck, it’s probably best not to put too much money on it.

It could – and should – have been so different.

Boro’s stirring first-half performance was everything Southgate could have asked for – a perfect riposte to the Tyne-Tees derby day disappointment of Monday.

His young charges were bright and bristling with enough energy and vigour to place their lacklustre visitors immediately on the back foot. Downing had started with a point to prove and could have helped Boro to make a breakthrough within a minute after he was released by the lively Marvin Emnes, only to see his cross poked behind.

Then the winger slid a brilliant ball to Arca, only for the Argentinian to blast over the bar. Gary O’Neill and Tunçay also contrived to miss good chances.

Boro finally applied the finishing touch to one of their moves – and predictably it was Downing at the centre of it. The ball was worked to him inside the penalty area and when his cross took a heavy deflection off Petrov, Tunçay responded with a superb overhead kick that zipped past a stationary Brad Friedel.

Boro had their tails up, but Downing’s injury checked their progress. They still managed to go close through Tunçay and a wonderful low drive from Emnes, the 20-year-old Dutchman jinking past his defender before forcing Friedel into a fingertip save.

The half-time whistle saved Villa – and their manager, Martin O’Neill, headed for the dressing rooms with a face like thunder as he looked to prompt a reversal of fortune.

It worked. Villa were everything in the second period that they hadn’t been in the first – quick, dangerous and full of endeavour and enterprise.

They took less than 10 minutes to find a way through, King failing to clear a Petrov cross and John Carew whipping the ball into the net from close range.

Ashley Young should have finished it off when David Wheater misjudged a long punt forward, but Jones made a terrific save at the England flier’s feet.

Boro were under the cosh, but nearly nicked it with eight minutes to go when Tunçay got on the end of Justin Hoyte’s cross.

The ball flashed over the bar, though, and Boro were all but condemned to life in the Championship.