Brayford did superbly to nod Collins' goal-bound header off the line and Doyle headed over from six yards following Bjorn Helge Riise's 18th-minute corner.
Villa keeper Friedel almost let Duff's deflected shot slip in and Cuellar smuggled Viduka's goal-bound shot off the line as Newcastle pressed for an early breakthrough.
Tottenham were not as fluid after the break, and Boro came close to equalising in the 47th minute only for the ubiquitous Lennon to clear David Wheater's goal-bound header off the line.