Tammy on target as Villa sparkle
TAMMY ABRAHAM made it seven goals in his last four games to help Aston Villa bring an end to Middlesbrough’s eight-match unbeaten run by winning at the Riverside Stadium.
Villa boss Dean Smith has won five of his first eight games in charge, including a fivematch unbeaten run, to put his new team within three points of the Championship’s play-off zone.
Middlesbrough, who now trail second-placed Leeds by four points, couldn’t find a way back after James Chester had put Aston Villa ahead in the 20th minute.
Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, hit his 11th goal of a productive season to seal the points in the North East just after the hour, before substitute Glenn Whelan added the third seven minutes from the end.
After the victories for Leeds United and Norwich City earlier in the day, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa both had three points in mind as they tried to close the gap on the top two.
Middlesbrough were wary of the attacking threat of the visitors following their midweek 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest.
And after Jordan Hugill had an early run at the visiting defence blocked, when he got the ball stuck under his feet, that paved the way for some pressure in the Middlesbrough half.
The danger signs had been there, and how Villa did not go ahead in the 11th minute was only down to the excellence of Darren Randolph, whose evening would later take a turn for the worse.
The Boro goalkeeper somehow got down to his left on his line to palm away a low Abraham strike after he met Yannick Bolasie’s delivery first time.
That was a sign of things to come. Villa looked dangerous every time they broke and the home side couldn’t get hold of the play, and Abraham had a strong claim for a penalty dismissed when he was tripped by George Friend.
It was no surprise when Chester scored the opening goal soon after. Jack Grealish’s corner was misjudged by Randolph, and defenders Danny Batth and Dael Fry both lost the centre-half, who was able to score from six yards out.
As half-time approached Middlesbrough went close to levelling. Mo Besic had an effort saved and Downing went close twice, once when he was unmarked at the back post and secondly when he saw his volley blocked by Hugill.
Middlesbrough pressed after the restart but struggled to test goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. All they could muster before the hour was a Downing effort that flew high into the North Stand.
And soon after Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis tinkered with his forward line, the Villans made it two.
Bolasie, wanted by the Teessiders in the summer, was left with loads of space to drill a low cross into the area for Abraham to slide in and apply the finish.
And then Whelan, moments after coming on as a late substitute, wrapped it up by scoring just his second goal for the club. A speculative long-range effort was spilled by Randolph through his fingers, and the keeper could only watch as the ball went in off the post.