BAM SLAMS DOOR

PATRICK BAMFORD’S first two goals of the season were enough to send 10-man Aston Villa crashing out.

Villa captain Tommy Elphick was sent off for his second yellow card, a 58th minute foul on Bamford (right) that brought a penalty.

Bamford – once dubbed the best player in the Championship by former boss Aitor Karanka – buried the spot-kick, following up with a 67th-minute header for Boro’s second from Marcus Tavernier’s cross. Having also hit the bar with a header, Bamford carried more threat than Villa who had £27million of attacking talent in Scott Hogan and sub Ross McCormack . Villa fielded a whole different team from the one that won in the Championship at Barnsley on Saturday and paid with their first defeat in seven games.