A frustrated Middlesbrough were only able away to walk away with a point at Villa Park, after a late second-half penalty from Gareth Barry drew the sides level.

Boro had taken a 22nd minute lead when their top scorer Stuart Downing capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to put the Teessiders ahead.

The 23-year-old intercepted a Zat Knight pass and charged forward, cutting into the area before beating Carson with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Spirits were high, and determined to make amends for their disastrous defeat against Cardiff in the FA Cup on Sunday, chances for Middlesbrough came aplenty.

Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shawky, making just his second start, had earlier curled a 20-yard effort just over the bar while Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson did well to come off his line and block a left-footed effort from Tuncay before Mido put the rebound wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Shawky was certainly in the thick of the action and he was only a couple of feet wide with a fierce 25-yard drive which beat the dive of Carson after former Villa midfielder George Boateng had teed up the chance.

Villa came close to equalising three minutes before the interval when a shot from John Carew was cleared off the line by Mido following an Ashley Young free-kick. When the ball came back to the Norwegian international, he sent his header over the bar.

It was a rare moment of hope for Villa and Boro were soon back on the offensive with Mido heading over from close range from a Gary O'Neil free-kick.

Mido squandered a golden opportunity to double Boro's lead after 51 minutes when Downing's low cross from the left flank found the Egyptian international unmarked 10 yards out with the goal gaping but he fired over the bar.

But the hosts' lucky break came 17 minutes from time when Boro defender Luke Young was harshly ruled to have handled a volley from Villa winger Young and England midfielder Barry levelled from the spot.

Villa seldomly fired on all cylinders and are now seven points adrift of fifth-placed Everton while Boro are 12th, five points above the relegation zone.

Rebecca Hevingham / Eurosport