Aston Villa's hopes of securing a European spot suffered a major dent despite skipper Gareth Barry rescuing a point with a controversial penalty against Gareth Southgate's side.

The England midfielder levelled from the spot with 17 minutes remaining after Boro defender Luke Young was harshly ruled to have handled a volley from Villa winger Ashley Young.

Stewart Downing had given the visitors a deserved half-time lead with his seventh goal of the season as Boro regained their pride after the FA Cup debacle against Cardiff at the weekend.

Southgate was given the perfect reponse by his players to that shock cup reversal and Boro could have wrapped the game up with steadier finishing before the Barry spot-kick.

Former Villa midfielder George Boateng was effective in a defensive midfield role although he lost his cool for a spell after being booked when preventing Olof Mellberg from taking a free-kick late on in this Barclays Premier League game.

Downing caused constant problems down the left flank while skipper Emanuel Pogatetz was a solid performer at the back.

Villa seldom fired on all cylinders and are now seven points adrift of fifth-placed Everton.

They turned in one of their most inept performances of the season during the opening 45 minutes and, although they dominated the second half, they huffed and puffed without any real conviction.

Southgate made three changes from the side which had lost to Cardiff and Boro were soon on the offensive with Mido missing a good chance to put them in front.

Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson did well to come off his line and block a left-footed effort from Tuncay but the rebound fell to Mido - who put his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Mohamed Shawky curled a 20-yard effort just over the bar and it came as no surprise when Downing gave Boro the lead after 23 minutes with his seventh goal of the campaign after a mistake by the recalled Zat Knight.

The Villa defender sent his pass straight into the path of the England winger who cut into the area before beating Carson with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Villa looked edgy every time the ball was played into their penalty box - although Knight partially atoned for his error with a superb tackle to halt a surging run into the Villa penalty area by Tuncay.

Shawky became the first player to be booked by referee Steve Bennett after 27 minutes for a challenge on Wilfred Bouma.

Another foul by the Egyptian midfielder on Shaun Maloney gave Young the chance to show his free-kick skills but his 20-yard effort hit the top of Boro's defensive wall.

Shawky was certainly in the thick of the action and he was only a couple of feet wide with a fierce 25-yard drive which beat the dive of Carson after former Villa midfielder George Boateng had teed up the chance.

Villa came close to equalising three minutes before the interval when a shot from John Carew was cleared off the line by Mido following a young free-kick. When the ball came back to the Norwegian international, he sent his header over the bar.

It was a rare moment of hope for Villa and Boro were soon back on the offensive with Mido heading over at close range from a O'Neil free-kick.

O'Neill reacted to his side's inept first half performance by bringing on striker Marlon Harewood and fit again defender Olof Mellberg in place of Maloney and Gardner.

But Mido squandered a golden opportunity to double Boro's lead after 51 minutes.

Downing's low cross from the left flank found the Egyptian international unmarked 10 yards out with the goal gaping but he fired over the bar.

Carson then had to react quickly in racing out of his box to fly-hack the ball clear from Tuncay after he had turned away from Martin Laursen.

With 17 minutes Barry levelled from the spot - harshly as Young had his back to the ball when it struck his hand and prompted Bennett to award a penalty.

Mido and Schwarzer were both booked for dissent before the penalty was converted by the England midfielder, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Teams

Aston Villa Carson, Gardner (Mellberg 46), Knight, Laursen,Bouma, Maloney (Harewood 46), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young,Agbonlahor, Carew.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Salifou, Osbourne.

Goals: Barry 74 pen.

Middlesbrough Schwarzer, Young, Huth, Wheater, Pogatetz,O'Neil, Boateng, Shawky, Downing, Sanli, Mido (Cattermole 83).

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Rochemback, Johnson, Grounds.

Booked: Shawky, Schwarzer, Mido, Boateng, Huth.

Goals: Downing 23.

Att: 39,874

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).