By Ryan Ghee
February 26 2006

Aston Villa continued their impressive away form with a point against Alan Curbishley's Charlton Athletic. The game itself was a dire encounter but the draw means Villa are now unbeaten in eight games away from home. Charlton striker Darren Bent looked the most likely player to score on the day but with Sorensen continually frustrating him, the game always had the potential to be a bore draw.

The home side had the better of the exchanges in the first period with Bent creating the first chance of the afternoon only to see his downward header comfortably gathered by Sorensen in the Villa goal.

Minutes later, the same player had another chance to break the deadlock as he raced through on the Villa goal after holding off the attentions of centre-back Liam Ridgewell.

However, Sorensen again thwarted the striker with a neat one-handed save as Bent tried to drill the ball inside the far post.

With Villa still failing to get to grips with the pace of the Charlton striker, Bent had yet another chance to open the scoring.

After good work from his namesake, Marcus, Darren Bent curled an effort from the edge of box which, via a deflection off Ridgewell, flew inches wide of the Villa goal.

Villa did finally threaten before the break as James Milner's well placed effort was tipped around the post by Charlton's Thomas Mhyre.

David O'Leary was forced into a change at half-time with Aaron Hughes coming off with an injury. Luke Moore, was introduced in place of the Northern Irish international and the youngster seemed to inject a new lease of life into the Villa team.

Villa started to bombard the home side's box with a number of corners with Mellberg firstly heading over the bar, and then Ridgewell forcing a save from Mhyre with a similar effort.

Charlton's Darren Ambrose then called Sorensen into action again with a well-struck effort from the edge of the box before Kishishev almost gifted Villa the lead.

Gareth Barry whipped a free-kick in from the left and Kishishev, trying to avert the danger, sliced the ball inches over his own crossbar.

With the game coming to a close, neither side threatened to claim all three points and the eventual goalless draw was a fair reflection of a rather disappointing mid-table clash.