MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1):
7 Randolph: Couldn’t have done anything with the goal, and made a superb fingertip save as he tipped Snodgrass’ shot onto the post
4 Shotton: Suffered an extremely nervous opening and was at fault as Jedinak ran off him to score Villa’s winner
6 Ayala: Did fairly well to keep Grabban quiet, but suffered a second-half knee injury that makes him a doubt for the second leg
6 Gibson: Didn’t make any significant errors, but wasn’t always comfortable and didn’t use the ball as effectively as he might have
6 Friend: Became more of an attacking influence in the second half, and will have to look to get on the front foot tomorrow
6 Clayton: Tried his best to hold things together at the base of midfield and will be charged with the task of shackling Grealish at Villa Park
6 Traore: Kept on trying to make a difference, but it’s hard to remember a game in the last few months when he was an ineffective
7 Howson: The pick of Boro’s midfielders as his through balls created a couple of decent first-half chances for Assombalonga
6 Besic: Tried to get on the front foot to drive Boro forward, but generally found himself facing a host of Villa defenders
5 Downing: A quiet night on the left-hand side, although he still held on to the ball reasonably well
5 Assombalonga: Forced a save from Johnstone with a first-half header, but wasted two other chances by blazing high and wide
Subs:
7 Fabio (for Ayala, 64): Made a difference after coming off the bench, with his thrusting forward runs asking fresh questions of the Villa defence
Bamford (for Assombalonga, 76)
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Fry, Cranie, Leadbitter, Harrison.
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1):
Johnstone 7; Elmohamady 7 (Whelan 88), Chester 7, Terry 8, HUTTON 9; Jedinak 7; Snodgrass 7, Hourihane 6, Grealish 8, Adomah 6 (Kodjia 70, 5); Grabban 6 (Bjarnason 80).
Subs (not used): Bunn (gk), Samba, Onomah, Hogan.
Man Of The Match: ALAN HUTTON – The full-back is 11 years older than Traore, but he rendered the winger completely ineffective with a superb defensive display.
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