Mervyn King was planning on Aston Villa’s place in the Barclays Premier League table rising in inverse proportion to interest rates, but instead the Governor of the Bank of England witnessed his team crunched as they sought extra credit yesterday.

Twice in a week Villa have lost with a place in the top four going begging. Victory away to Slavia Prague in the Uefa Cup has been sandwiched by the loss away to Newcastle United, last Monday, and a first home league defeat of the season yesterday, when Steve Sidwell’s dream Premier League debut turned into a nightmare, the former Chelsea midfield player gifting Tunçay Sanli a winning goal two minutes from time.

Sidwell, having equalised after Tunçay’s first goal, was under no pressure when he passed the ball straight into the Turkey forward’s path and, as Tunçay belted his shot past Brad Friedel at the near post, the Villa midfield player slid to the turf, head in hands. If Tunçay was grateful for his first goal, when Nicky Shorey misjudged Stewart Downing’s cross, he was ecstatic with the winner.

So while Middlesbrough consolidated eighth place, Villa remain on the outside of the top four, looking in, one point shy of Manchester United, but light years away. King came to Villa Park looking for some light relief amid the global financial gloom. “I’m a lifelong fan,” he said. “Not that I’ve had much time for football in recent weeks. It’s been a bit busy. I like to watch football here for relaxation, but it wasn’t very relaxing right at the end there, was it?”

Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, described this win as “probably the best result since I’ve been manager”. The former Villa captain challenged his players to keep competing for a place just beneath the elite. “Where do they want to go?” he asked. “The league’s so tight, it’s in their hands. We’re a point behind Everton and we go there next.”

Franco Baldini, right-hand man of Fabio Capello, the England manager, was also in attendance and he must have been impressed by Downing’s performance. The winger’s cross left Shorey in two minds and presented Tunçay with his second goal of the season, but Villa responded well and James Milner crossed for Sidwell to head in at the far post.

Milner, playing just off Gabriel Agbonlahor with John Carew suffering from a hip injury, almost scored when Gareth Barry pulled the ball back, only for Ross Turnbull to save well. Ashley Young was fitfully brilliant, forcing Turnbull to make fine saves from two long-range shots, and also clearing off the line from Chris Riggott’s header at the other end.

Even King would have banked on Afonso Alves scoring when Friedel parried Didier Digard’s shot eight minutes from time, but the Brazilian striker shot wide from five yards out. If Villa thought they had got out of jail, they paid the penalty when Sidwell passed vaguely in the direction of Nigel Reo-Coker behind him, only for Tunçay to accept the gift. With Arsenal and Manchester United next up, Villa’s credit rating is still less than fixed.

Aston Villa (4-4-1-1): B Friedel 5 - C Cuéllar 3, C Davies 6, M Laursen 5, N Shorey 5 - N Reo-Coker 4, S Sidwell 5, G Barry 6, A Young 7 - J Milner 7 - G Agbonlahor 6. Substitutes: M Harewood 5 (for Shorey, 70min). Not used: B Guzan, N Delfouneso, Z Knight, M Salifou, W Routledge, C Gardner. Next: Arsenal (a).

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): R Turnbull 7 - J Hoyte 6, C Riggott 6, E Pogatetz 5, A Taylor 5 - J Aliadière 7, G O’Neil 7,D Digard 7, S Downing 7 - Afonso Alves 5, Tunçay Sanli 7. Substitutes: J Arca (for Alves, 82min). Not used: B Jones, M Emnes, A Johnson, D Wheater, J Grounds, J Walker. Next: Everton (a).