Ugo Ehiogu had the last laugh after running a gauntlet of hate from the Aston Villa fans by scoring the goal which maintained Middlesbrough's unbeaten record under Terry Venables.

Ehiogu was given a hostile reception from the opening whistle on his first return to Villa Park since his £8million move from Villa earlier this season.

Crude chants were aimed in his direction from the Holte End where he was a hero with the fans for nine seasons.

But he silenced them early in the second half with his third goal for the Teessiders who earned another precious point in their battle to avoid the drop from the Premiership.

It means that Boro are unbeaten in 12 League and cup games under Venables and have collected 16 points from a possible 30 in the Premiership.

And they could have returned home with all three points had referee Clive Wilkes awarded a penalty when Steve Stone appeared to bring down Philip Stamp in the closing stages.

Middlesbrough again showed the steel that has been evident since Venables took charge and Villa, who dominated the opening 45 minutes territorially, found them hard to break down.

Only Paul Merson looked capable of prising open the visitors' rearguard and Villa's strike force of record signing Juan Pablo Angel and fit-again Julian Joachim were largely effective.

Angel's substitution with 16 minutes remaining was greeted with boos from a section of the Villa fans. But it was not clear whether these were aimed at the player or Villa boss John Gregory.

Paul Ince, who is enjoying something of a renaissance under Venables, and Paul Okon worked like terriers in the centre of the park while Ehiogu was also commanding in defence for Middlesbrough.

Villa could take encouragement from fine displays by wing-backs Steve Stone and Alan Wright, while Mark Delaney made several important challenges as a makeshift centre-back.

But Villa need to win these kind of games against relegation candidates if they are to rekindle hopes of earning a UEFA Cup spot but they are without a home League win since early November.

There was little to enthuse about in the opening stages as both sides struggled to put their passing game together on a rain-soaked pitch.

It was fully 18 minutes before a shot worthy of the name was produced byVilla midfielder Lee Hendrie whose low 20-yard drive was saved away to his left by Mark Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough were generally content to soak up the pressure but Villa keeper David James had to react sharply to tip over a curling 25-yard shot from Christian Karembeu.

Former Villa defender Ehiogu was booed every time he touched the ball, but he could have silenced the taunts when he found himself with only James to beat after Villa had appealed in vain for off-side when Paul Ince lobbed the ball back into the danger zone.

But Bryan Robson's £8million capture sent a weak header straight at a grateful James.

Mark Delaney then made a good tackle to deny Hamilton Ricard after he hadbeen freed in the area by Alen Boksic.

Villa had the majority of the possession and seven minutes before the interval Stone broke the dead-lock.

Steve Staunton's inswinging corner picked out the former England player who was completely unmarked when he headed past Schwarzer for his third goal of the campaign.

Middlesbrough, who brought on Stamp for Karembeu at half-time, needed only four minutes of the second half to draw level.

Ince forced a corner when his low shot was parried around the post by James.

The resulting centre from Keith O'Neill picked out Ehiogu who thundered an unstoppable header past James.

Boro were now showing more purpose and Delaney got in another important challenge to block an effort from Boksic after Stamp had lobbed the ball into his path.

Then came the challenge by Stone on Stamp which could have resulted in a spot-kick.

Villa staged a late bid to claim victory but the closest they came was when Joachim hit a low shot on the turn inches past the post.

Teams:

Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Wright, Alpay, Staunton, Stone, Boateng, Hendrie (Taylor 66), Merson, Joachim, Angel (Dublin 75).

Subs Not Used: Ginola, Barry, Enckelman.

Booked: Alpay.

Goals: Stone 38.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Festa, Ehiogu, Cooper, Karembeu (Stamp 45), Ince, Okon, O'Neill (Gordon 73), Ricard, Boksic (Deane 66).

Subs Not Used: Mustoe, Crossley.

Booked: Stamp.

Goals: Ehiogu 49.

Att: 28,912

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).