Villa really talked up the importance of this game: from Martin O'Neill describing it as a "must win" fixture, to Craig Gardner banging on about finishing fourth and not settling for fifth or sixth.

Fine words indeed, and not out of place at the time from a group of players operating with confidence, pace and power.

How puzzling, then, that the resulting performance was such a complete damp squib. This was a game in which Villa's A-list went strangely missing and Villa's B-list dropped off the scale. Second to nearly every ball, nowhere near the "second ball", flat-footed and lethargic throughout, the eleven players who started the game looked as if they had never seen each other before, let alone played together.

This resurgent Aston Villa side, without immense investment, has been built on team spirit, work ethic, commitment and speed. I wracked my brains trying to see tactical reasons why Villa couldn't cut it last night, but there weren't any. They were just extremely off-colour - and whilst I guess every team can be forgiven an off day, the timing of this one is pretty inconvenient. Unless we win at Pompey on Saturday, 5th place is a pipe dream.

Let's give some credit where credit's due. I wondered whether Boro's confidence wouldn't be shattered after their hiding at the hands of Cardiff, but they bounced back and gave it a real go in B6.

They're not the most skilful or fluent team in the Premier League, but they played with guts and determination last night and I think they probably caught Villa off guard. Sure, referee Bennett was repeatedly conned by Huth and Mido at different ends of the pitch, Carew and Laursen being tugged off balance nearly every time they rose for a ball. But at least they were up for it.

I actually struggled to sit through the first half. Craig Gardner's performance at right back was as weak a display as I have seen in a Villa shirt for some time, and I think there was a collective sigh of relief that his woefully inept 45 minutes had come to an end when Mellberg replaced him at half time.

If it hadn't been for the dayglo Mercurial Vapors, I actually wouldn't have known Gabby was playing, and I only knew Carew was there because he's taller than anyone else. No-one was surprised when Zat committed his usual blooper, but I was a bit bewildered that - having given the ball away to Stewart Downing - he then flat-footedly waved him past. Ashley Young might as well have got his PSP out, and the impish Maloney was very unimpish indeed.

I suppose it got better in the second half. Laursen, Bouma and Reo-Coker continued to perform solidly and Ashley Young got himself back into the game a bit. We had a few chances. Barry tucked away a penalty that, er, wasn't and at the end of the evening you had to be glad of a point. Any more would have been daylight robbery, believe me.

Let's hope the smiles are back on our faces on Saturday because this is a blip in a fine, fine season's work. But if we don't beat Pompey, don't expect anyone in the blue half of Merseyside to be losing any sleep.

Villa: Carson 5; Gardner 3 (Sub: Mellberg 5); Knight 4; Laursen 6; BOUMA 7; Young 5; Barry 5; Reo-Coker 6; Maloney 5 (Sub: Harewood 6); Carew 5; Agbonlahor 4.

Man-of-the-Match: Downing, Middlesbrough

Villan-of-the-Match: BOUMA - the only player who maintained form