Villa safe after thrilling fightback

AFP - 14 April 2007 19:02

Aston Villa effectively guaranteed their Premiership survival as they fought back to win 3-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Villa had fallen behind to Fabio Rochemback´s free-kick, but Craig Gardner equalised before the break and Luke Moore and Stilian Petrov, seen here in action in September 2006, struck in the second half to seal the victory.

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) - Aston Villa effectively guaranteed their Premiership survival as they fought back to win 3-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Martin O'Neill's side moved on to 42 points and can look forward to another season in English football's top division after extending their unbeaten run to five matches.

Villa had fallen behind to Fabio Rochemback's free-kick, but Craig Gardner equalised before the break and Luke Moore and Stilian Petrov struck in the second half to seal the victory.

The visitors had started brightly and should have been in front after just four minutes. Gabriel Agbonlahor tricked Robert Huth to give himself a sight of goal but could only shoot weakly at Mark Schwarzer.

Agbonlahor turned provider seconds later when his cross picked out strike partner Shaun Maloney, who shot wide from close range.

O'Neill's men had another opportunity to break the deadlock in the ninth minute when Maloney drew a fine block from Australia keeper Schwarzer.

Those misses came back to haunt Villa as Middlesbrough were gifted the lead in the 13th minute.

Rochemback's 30-yard free-kick should have been dealt with by Thomas Sorsensen, but the Villa keeper allowed the ball to spill out of his grasp and into the net.

Malcolm Christie went close for the hosts when he broke into the area and lifted a delicate chip just over the crossbar.

A superb run by Nigeria striker Yakubu created an opening for Adam Johnson, but the Middlesbrough midfielder's curling effort dipped wide of the far post.

But Villa snatched an equaliser on the stroke of half time when Agbonlahor surged down the wing and slipped a pass to Gardner, who drove in his first goal for the club from close range.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate had spent several years at Villa Park, but he didn't enjoy the latest reunion with his former club.

Villa took the lead when Rochemback was penalised for a foul on Ashley Young. The forward picked himself up to send in a free-kick that Olof Mellberg headed down to Moore and he finished well for his first goal since September.

Petrov completed Villa's comeback when he collected Gareth Barry's pass before driving a low shot into the bottom corner.