Skipper Steven Caldwell nodded the Clarets into an early lead, but Burnley were made to pay for not taking advantage of numerous chances when substitute Emile Heskey headed a late equaliser.

The point briefly lifted Burnley into ninth, only for Stoke to leapfrog them on Sunday, and Coyle, celebrating his second anniversary at the club, looked back on another impressive performance.

He said: "We were well-placed to get the three points.

"I thought we were outstanding in the first half, we passed and moved the ball and created numerous opportunities.

"We obviously scored a good goal and Brad Friedel made one or two excellent saves in the game.

"But we always knew in the second half Villa would come back at us at various stages of the game, and Brian made a good save from Agbonlahor when he raced through from a goal kick, and with the conditions, with the wind swirling about, sometimes things like that happen.

"Out with that, I don't recall too many real opportunities, but we paid the price for not clearing a corner properly and not dealing with it when it's come back in.

"We're disappointed, but as a manager, I can't ask any more of that group of players, they've worked their socks off, each and every one of them, and within that shown real quality on the ball.

"The bit of skill from Fletcher alone in the second half when Brad Friedel saved it from going in the top corner, Blake forced a similar save...Friedel was outstanding.

"On another day they could have resulted in goals, but I'd have to say, if you'd said to me two years ago when we came in that two years later you'd play Aston Villa and be disappointed at losing...sorry, at drawing 1-1 - sorry, it felt like that because we lost a goal late on!"

It means the Clarets are now unbeaten in three, having held both Manchester City and Villa in their last two games, and the side continue to look like they belong in the top flight.

Coyle added: "What we have to do is learn at this level and learn quickly.

"We've got to look to evolve and, when all is said and done, look to make sure we retain our Premier League status.
"Three points would have a great way towards that.

"As it is, we take just one point, like we did against Manchester City, and we look to move on.

"I think we were tipped to lose the match because Aston Villa, I believe, if they don't make the top four, they will be pushing very close to it.

"We know the quality we are playing, but we've got a group of players whose work-rate and work ethic is second to none, and from the quality we've shown, I can't ask for anything more.

"I thought our first half was outstanding. I thought we were in control of the game.

"Having said that, we've seen the quality they've got with the likes of Carew and Agbonlahor and Heskey. These are top class players.

"But my boys have gone toe-to-toe with them and shown quality ourselves.
"Robbie Blake's deliveries from set-plays was terrific, we saw that from the first goal.

"We have match-winners and crowd pleasers, people who are prepared to entertain, while hopefully on their way to winning matches and picking up points.

"That's the way we'll continue - home and away we'll try and entertain, try and win. We won't change our beliefs or philosophies."

The Clarets might have been two goals to the good, had David Nugent not had a goal chalked off for off-side, when Carlos Cuellar appeared to play him on, but Coyle said: "I felt he was onside, as I always do. I'm probably slightly biased in that way.

"Nugent is a class player and if I could bring him here permanently tomorrow, I would love to do it.

"There are one or two others that are probably frustrated right now because of the style of play and system we're playing, and the fact that Fletcher is up there and playing out of his skin.

"That's what we want – the competition between players.

"I hoped we could see the game out but we didn't and that's credit to Aston Villa.
"But it might turn out to be a very important point for us."