Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 2: James Milner is magic at the Stadium of plight
Of all the sides contesting the right to take over Liverpool's place in the top four, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce believes Aston Villa are the strongest candidates.[LNB]And last night Martin O'Neill's side proved just why as they powered to a convincing win at the Stadium of Light, winning at the ground where Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger have failed this season.[LNB]Emile Heskey, the England striker Bruce sold to Villa a year ago, and who has been linked with a move to the Wearside club, opened the scoring on a wet and wild night.[LNB]His emphatic finish, for only his third goal of the season, set Villa on the path to the three points which claimed third place ahead of Arsenal.[LNB] In the firing line: Milner's shot evades Kieran Richardson to fire his fourth of the season[LNB]It was no great surprise when England midfielder James Milner scoredhis third goal in four games from the centre of midfield to clinchanother impressive away win for O'Neill's men.[LNB]Although Sunderland huffed and puffed, and were denied by onebrilliant save from Brad Friedel, they were too often sidetracked bythe abysmal performance of[LNB]referee Kevin Friend who seemed totally overawed by the occasion andthe pace of a breathless game although nobody could argue with thelate red card shown to Lorik Cana for the second of two rash challenges.[LNB]One man relieved that Aston Villa did not take an early lead wasreferee Friend who was certain to have felt the full fury of Bruce ifStewart Downing's free-kick had bounced the other side of MartonFulop's crossbar.[LNB]Bruce was furious that one of the Premier League's newest officialsfailed to award a free-kick to the home side when Darren Bent wascaught hard and late by Stephen Warnock as the pair chased a ball intothe corner.[LNB]Villa keeper Friedel cleared the danger to James Milner who foundHeskey with his firm pass through the heart of the Sunderland defence,leaving George McCartney with little option but to inflict a similarfoul on the England striker at the edge of Fulop's area.[LNB]Off to a flyer: Heskey gives Marton Fulop no chance[LNB]The free-kick from Downing, who started his career on loan atSunderland, was Villa's first serious effort and they were fortunatenot to be behind after just eight minutes when Jordan Henderson piercedthe stubborn Villa back-line to unleash a shot which just clearedFriedel's upright.[LNB]Villa though ensured that they kept up their impressive record ofscoring in every league game since the opening day defeat against Wiganwhen Heskey's third of the season broke the deadlock.[LNB]The opening came via a Sunderland error, when McCartney's dreadfulcrossfield pass was picked up by Stilyan Petrov. The Villa captainmoved the ball instantly inside to Milner whose delightful pass withthe outside of his right foot was weighted perfectly into the path ofHeskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Heskey powered ahead of his strikepartner and buried the ball low beyond Fulop's reach.[LNB]After Friend had turned down optimistic appeals for a penaltyfollowing Warnock's high challenge from behind on Michael Turner,Sunderland were denied by a superb Friedel save in the 37th minute.Admittedly Andy Reid's shot on his weaker right foot was in the idealarea but the American keeper had to scramble across his goal-line tomake the save.[LNB]Boiling point: Bruce saw his inconsistent Sunderland side slump to their eighth defeat of the season[LNB]Reid twice turned provider for Jones before half-time, splicing theVilla back four with two precise crosses from his trusty left foot,only for the Sunderland striker to fail to connect. The first effortflew well wide and the second fell into the path of Kieran Richardsonwho also screwed his half volley wide.[LNB]As frustrations from the home crowd started to boil over withFriend, he departed at the break to furious booing. But if Bruce andthe home support were expecting an improvement from the[LNB]referee after the break, they were to be disappointed and within twominutes he penalised Reid for another soft challenge on Heskey.[LNB]Thankfully even Friend's inexcusably poor performance could not ruina thrilling contest, and as Sunderland chased the equaliser, so theyleft themselves open to Villa's speedy counter attacks.[LNB]Four minutes after the re-start Reid was on the end of a simpleSunderland move long ball from defence from McCartney, knock-on fromBent but the slim-line Irishman's shot off the slippery turf flew thewrong side of Friedel's post.[LNB]And for all Sunderland's bluster, they were killed off in the 61stminute by Milner's wonderful sixth goal of the season into theSunderland keeper's top corner.[LNB]The former Newcastle midfielder powered past Richardson afterSunderland had again gifted possession at a routine Nyron Nosworthythrow-in. His right foot shot from 25 yards was simply unstoppable.[LNB]At least Sunderland and Bruce were buoyed by the 71st minuteappearance of midfielder Lee Cattermole who has returned from a seriousinjury a month ahead of schedule.[LNB] NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Returning Lee Cattermole lifts the clouds over Sunderland for Steve BruceO'Neill tells Milner: I'm no Villan for making you play in central midfieldALL THE MIDWEEK BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWSALL THE ASTON VILLA FC
