*Aston Villa claimed their first win in six games as they beat Middlesbrough to spoil new boss Tony Pulis’ first game in charge.*

After an uneventful first half, Jack Grealish and Robert Snodgrass had efforts saved, while Jonny Howson and Patrick Bamford went close for Boro.

Villa took the lead when Snodgrass headed in from Albert Adomah’s cross.

The result means Villa leapfrog Boro into seventh place, while Pulis’ side drop to ninth.

Middlesbrough are now winless in five home league meetings with Villa and it is the first time Steve Bruce has claimed three points as a manager at the Riverside.

Villa, who were without eight first-team players - including Glenn Whelan, Neil Taylor and Keinan Davis, who all featured in the Boxing Day defeat at Brentford - had the best chance of the early exchanges when Adomah saw his shot saved by Darren Randolph.

Howson had a volley at the other end pushed away by Sam Johnstone but there were far more clear opportunities for the visitors after the break, as both substitute Grealish and Snodgrass struck low at goal only to be denied by Randolph.

Boro substitute Bamford then had two attempts blocked in the Villa box before Snodgrass’ diving header gave Villa victory.

*Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce:*

“Considering the problems that we’ve had (without nine players) it’s a very satisfying win.

“The response from the other night was vitally important. We lurch along, we played badly against Brentford second half and all of a sudden we’re in crisis.

“We have to eradicate that as a club. We can’t be just going along quite nicely and then we’re in crisis. We’ve seen today this is a division which throws up results which leave people scratching their heads at. Let us get on with the job in hand.”