Boring Boro grab a vital point

THE post Christmas decline of Middlesbrough was perfectly encapsulated as they came away from Villa Park with a gratefully-accepted point.

On the face of it having earned just two draws from their previous 12 games, a goalless draw with the side fourth in the Premiership was an achievement in itself. But this was a Villa team without eight first-teamers, through injury and suspension, and with a trio of debutants, and still Bryan Robson’s team rarely looked like finding a way through.

And while Robson did at least indicate his belief that the Teessiders had now turned the corner despite a thigh injury to one Brazilian, Juninho, and the patent lack of fitness of his other, Branco, his reflections were perhaps unintentionally revealing.

"When we looked at their team, we hoped that this would be the one where we won,” said Robson.