Home sweet home. Villa really enjoy trips to Teesside nowadays.

Martin O'Neill's men recorded their fifth victory in six Riverside visits and took the goal tally over that period to 17.

Goals from John Carew, Olof Mellberg and Gabby Agbonlahor did the damage this time and Villa were good value for the three points.

Schwarzer had to race off his line to beat Carew to a long ball on four.

Carson did well to deny Aliadiere four minutes later, palming a low drive past the post.

The Villa fans brilliantly stuck by Carson with chants of 'England's No1' in response to jeers from the home fans.

Agbonlahor fired across the face of goal on 15 as he found space behind the Boro back four.

Barry sent a left-foot free kick over the bar from 30 yards a minute later.

O'Neil fired high over the bar from 25 yards on 24 as both sides struggled to create chances.

Schwarzer sent a weak clearance straight at Carew on 31, but the striker was robbed by Woodgate as he shaped up to shoot.

Agbonlahor almost opened the scoring on 34, but his snap shot from Young's right-wing cross was deflected wide.

Young's low right-foot volley from the subsequent corner was blocked by Wheater.

Reo-Coker fired over on 41 as he collected a loose ball on the edge of the box.

Villa penalty appeals fell on deaf ears a minute before the break as Agbonlahor appeared to be fouled by Woodgate.

Carew broke the deadlock in stoppage time with a superb turn and shot from Barry's left-wing centre.

Petrov's rising drive was blocked on 47 as Villa started the second-half strongly.

Mellberg then doubled Villa's lead a minute later, firing past Schwarzer as Petrov's low drive deflected off Cattermole and looped over the Boro defence.

Agbonlahor was denied by Young on 52 as he raced onto Barry's incisive through ball.

Carson comfortably gathered a low angled drive from Young on 58.

Villa were 3-0 up almost immediately as Agbonlahor raced onto Carson's long clearance, held off Woodgate and fired past Schwarzer.

As Villa continued to press, Young sent an ambitious right-foot effort over the bar as he cut in from the right on 63.

O'Neil fired wide from the edge of the box on 72 as the hosts looked for a way back into the game.

Substitute Rochemback sent a right-foot free kick straight at the Villa wall on 78.

Carson did well to palm Downing's low drive wide of the upright on 82.

Agbonlahor almost made it 4-0 on 87 as he raced onto Gardner's measured through ball, but Schwarzer deflected a low right-foot shot onto the post.

Boro: Schwarzer, Young, O'Neil, Pogatetz, Boateng, Woodgate, Aliadiere, Downing, Cattermole, Johnson, Wheater. Subs: Turnbull, Rochemback (for Cattermole 54), Tuncay, Taylor, Hutchinson (for Aliadiere 75).

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Petrov, Reo-Coker (booked 17), Barry, Agbonlahor, Young, Carew. Subs: Taylor, Moore, Davies (for Laursen 84), Gardner (for Petrov 79), Maloney (for Carew 75).