Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 3: Villa beaten as Alvaro Negredo scores first goal on English soil for Premier League new boys

THREE second half goals saw Boro come from behind in a game that saw Victor Valdes and Alvaro Negredo make their debuts on English soil.

Relegated Villa, who have had a fine pre-season under new boss Roberto di Matteo, took the lead at Villa Park thanks to a free header beyond keeper Valdes from defender Nathan Baker in a half they dominated.

But in the second period, new signings combined as former Ajax playmaker Viktor Fischer shot, but new Villa stopper Pierliugi Gollin could only parry, giving Negredo a tap-in from close range.

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining Boro edged in front when Fischer finished a flowing Boro move, before Jordan Rhodes tucked in a the back post with his firs touch to secure the victory for Aitor Karanka’s side.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• LEAVE at least 24 hours before a Villa game if you want to be sure of getting there in time. The bright spark who shut down the J6 exit of the M6 on a Saturday match day made a lot of enemies!
• EMPTY seats all over Villa Park weren’t just caused by gridlocked traffic – this was the reality of life in the Championship. Only the Holte End had anyone in the top tier.
• THE notable absence of Idrissa Gana form the Villa line-up would suggest he has played his last game for the club, with a £7.1million move to Everton expected to go through this weekend.
• VICTOR VALDES looks nothing like the goalie he was at Barcelona or even Manchester United. He has hair for the new season – lots of it!
• LEANDRO BACUNA has a long way to go to win over Villa fans . But he started the long haul back to earning some respect with a sublime cross to the back post for Nathan Baker to head Villa in front after 15 minutes.

• MARTEN DE ROON does not appreciate the finer things in life – like Jack Grealish waltzing around the middle of the park! Having weaved by two of his teammates, Dutchman De Roon absolutely CLOGGED him!
• AITOR KARANKA was quick out of the blocks to make Ajax’s Danish winger Viktor Fischer his first summer signing. At £3.8million the 21-year-old looks a steal setting up Boro’s frrst and scoring their second.
• The home side led Boro after an hour to raise hopes – then promptly imploded in typical Villa style as Boro romped home with three goals in 17 minutes. Roberto Di Matteo has a BIG job on his hands.
• ALVARO NEGREDO scored 23 goals in his debut season for Manchester City and has hit the ground running with Boro. He smashed home a rebound from Fischer’s partially saved shot to equalise – then repaid the compliment to set up the Dane to fire the visitors in front.
• JORDAN RHODES doesn’t take long to warm up. The Scot made it five goals in six pre-season games with a back post header with his first touch of the game, one minute after coming on!

SOCIAL SAYS

THEY SAID

Aitor Karanka said: “I feel a lot of expectation around us.

“For that reason, I think that it was very important to go into the changing room one goal behind, and return to the pitch knowing that we have to fight for every ball.

“I told them that we needed to increase our intensity.

“When we are signing players like those we are signing, and when we are in the Premier League, sometimes you forget that you have to work hard to win every single game.”

“Aston Villa now are playing in the Championship, but last season most of them were playing in the Premier League,” he said.

“I am really pleased that we could fix the mistakes that we made. It was good for everybody.”