Defender Martin Laursen ended seven months of injury misery by scoring the
opening goal as David O'Leary's regained their pride against woeful
Middlesbrough.
Laursen, signed from AC Milan for £3million last summer, has been sidelined
since suffering knee ligament damage at Charlton in August.
But his first start since then saw him break the deadlock and there was also a
first senior Villa goal for teenager Luke Moore.
O'Leary had demanded a response from his players after the shocking display
against Everton last weekend which he had branded the worst in his two years at
the club.
He made five changes and Villa were a lot more solid with Laursen proving his
worth alongside skipper Olof Mellberg.
Mathieu Berson also impressed in the centre of midfield and there was an
encouraging return to the side for Darius Vassell as the lone striker in his
first start for five months since breaking an ankle.
But injury-hit Middlesbrough never moved out of second gear and only one win
in their last nine league matches is undermining their push for a European
place.
Before the kick-off thousands of Villa fans held up cards displaying the words
'Show Doug The Red Card' in protest at club chairman Doug Ellis and the lack of
investment in new players.
But it was muted compared to some of the vociferous protests Ellis has had to
endure during his lengthy reign.
Both sides were cautious from the start and each operated with a single
central striker in Vassell and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The first half-chance fell to Gareth Barry after the ball had broken to him on
the left following a challenge between Nolberto Solano and Chris Riggott.
Boro keeper Carlo Nash slipped over on the greasy surface when off his
goalline and the first-time effort from Barry was well struck but sailed wide of
the target.
Berson sent a low effort wide from 25 yards after a darting run and Franck
Queudrue cleared a header from Solano at the expense of a corner.
Middlesbrough threatened for the first time when Bolo Zenden squared the ball
to Hasselbaink and his drive was deflected by the lunge of Jlloyd Samuel for a
corner.
Then Samuel made another important interception to halt Szilard Nemeth after
he had raced onto a ball over the Villa defence from Doriva.
Villa won a free-kick in a dangerous position after Gareth Southgate brought
down Vassell 25 yards out and Solano's curling effort was only just off target.
Ray Parlour found himself in a couple of yards of space to the right side of
the Villa area but dragged his low shot hopelessly wide.
The game came to to life after the break and Solano missed a golden chance to
put the home side ahead after 54 minutes.
Nash parried out a low cross from Vassell and the loose ball found its way to
Solano some eight yards out with his back to goal but after swivelling he sent
his shot high and wide.
Villa were now in the ascendancy but after 57 minutes Luke Moore replaced
Vassell, who had given a good account of himself in his first start for five
months.
Southgate denied Lee Hendrie at the expense of a corner but David O'Leary's
side broke the deadlock from the resulting centre by Solano in the 65th minute.
Moore managed to get a flick-on and there was Laursen at the far post to
bundle the ball over the line for his first goal for the club.
McClaren's response to going behind was to immediately bring on Danny Graham
for Nemeth and he almost produced an instant equaliser.
He found himself clear in the box after exchanging passes with Hasselbaink but
Laursen did just enough to put him off and he dragged his shot wide.
Doriva was booked by referee Rob Styles for a challenge on Hendrie and then
Steven Davis suffered the same fate after a late lunge at Downing.
With 12 minutes left Moore made sure of victory for Villa after Nash had
failed to hold an inswinging free-kick from Solano.
Teams
Aston Villa Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Laursen, Samuel,
Solano, Hendrie, Berson, Davis, Barry, Vassell (Luke Moore 57).
Subs Not Used: Hitzlsperger, Postma, Djemba-Djemba, Ridgewell.
Booked: Davis.
Goals: Laursen 64, Luke Moore 79.
Middlesbrough Nash, Parnaby, Southgate, Riggott, Queudrue,
Nemeth (Graham 65), Parlour, Doriva, Zenden, Downing (Job 82),
Hasselbaink.
Subs Not Used: Knight, Cooper, McMahon.
Booked: Doriva, Parlour.
Att: 34,201
Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).
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