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Aston Villa missed out on the chance to go fourth in the Premier League after falling to a late goal in a 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough.

Martin O'Neil's side remain in fifth on 20 points after failing to convert many of their second half chances.

Instead, it was Boro who capitalised on some shocking Villa defending in the final third as Tuncay powered home a winner following a Steven Sidwell mistake on 88 minutes.

The Turkish striker had put his team ahead mid-way through the first half after some dreadful Villa defending before Sidwell equalised for the home side with a back post header minutes later.

The visitors had made only one change from last week's 1-1 draw with West Ham, the young Justin Hoyte coming in for David Wheater at right-back.

By contrast, Villa made five changes from the team that beat Slavia Prague 1-0 in the UEFA Cup mid-week. There was no room for John Carew though who failed a pre-match fitness test with the pacy pair of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor preferred up front.

The dreadful conditions were hampering both sides' attempts at playing decent football although Villa made the brightest start with first Ashley Young having a penalty appeal turned down and then Gareth Barry shooting into the arms of Ross Turnbull from a tight angle.

Soon after, on 28 minutes, a Young free-kick was tipped over by Turnbull as the home side pressed for the opening goal.

Middlesbrough though were having none of it and after having weathered the early Villa storm they took the lead through Tuncay.

In truth, the Turk was fortunate to find the ball at his feet following a poor header from Nicky Shorey in the Villa box but he made no mistake from five yards to hand the visitors a 1-0 lead.

To Villa's credit they pushed forward and were handed a deserved equaliser when Sidwell rose the highest at the far post to head home a Milner cross - his second in four Premier League games for the Birmingham side.

The second half saw Villa dominate for with Barry, Agbonlahor and Sidwell all going close early on.

And with the introduction of Marlon Harewood for Nicky Shorey in the 68th minute it was clear that O'Neil was going for the win that would hoist his team above Manchester United and into fourth in the Premier League table.

The tactical change though allowed Middlesbrough to come into the game and when Riggot saw a header of his cleared off the line you sensed there was a sting in the game's tail.

And Boro should have made it 2-1 when Alves had the ball at his feet five yards out with just Friedel to beat following a parried Didier Digard shot. But to the horror of the visiting support the Brazilian managed to put his effort wide.

Worse was to come though.

Collecting the ball on the edge of his area in the 88th minute Steven Sidwell played a weak back pass which Tuncay picked up just ourside the area and smashed past Friedel for 2-1 - and Boro's first win at Villa Park in six Premier League games.

The win sees Gareth Southgate's side move up to eighth in the table, just three points behind Aston Villa.

Svein Clouston / Eurosport