The final whistle goes and what a win for Sunderland! It's their first win away from home all season, and what a time to achieve it!

There will be 3 minutes of stoppage time.

Not long now, and Villa could have cost themselves a potential place in Europe if the game stays the way it does at the moment.

Dwight Yorke replaces Daryl Murphy.

What a goal that could prove to be! Chopra, scorer of late Sunderland goals before, has done it again, and if they win, how vital could those 3 points be come may?

Michael Chopra scores! The long ball came in and left the Villa defence flat-footed, Chopra then went past Knight and slotted the ball home when through on goal.

Into the final ten minutes, and both teams are going for all 3 points as a draw at this stage wouldn't be of much help to anyone.

Grant Leadbitter receives the ball from a Kieran Richardson pass inside the box, the effort however is wasted as the ball goes very wide of the mark!

Harewood's shot hits the sidenetting, and a goal-kick is awarded, despite Harewood appealing that Gordon touched it wide.

With only a quarter of an hour to go, fans are beginning to get tense, and its in these final stages that games can be won and lost with moments of brilliance or stupidity.

Isaiah Osbourne replaces Shaun Maloney.

Harewood puts the ball just over the bar! However Carew had already been pulled up for an earlier foul, but since his arrival, Harewood has certainly changed the complexion of this game.

Grant Leadbitter replaces Carlos Edwards.

Agbonlahor puts in a great ball across the box, and with the goal gaping, Harewood just cant get on the end of it, unlucky for Villa there.

Villa have managed to score in every home league game this season, will today see the end to that run?

Carew chests down the long ball and the crowd anticipate a turn and volley towards goal, however the linesman's flag puts an end to that.

Michael Chopra replaces Roy O'Donovan.

Roy O'Donovan is booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Zak Knight.

Harewood almost makes an imediate impact, Carew supplied the ball, and as Harewood ran through on goal, his effort went over the advancing keeper, but just wide of the post.

Marlon Harewood replaces Nigel Reo-Coker, and that's unfair on Coker, who certainly wasn't the worst player on the park today.

Gordon gets down well and makes a good save, he then recovers well to collect the ball before Agbonlahor can pounce.

The second half has begun in the same vein as the first, Martin O'Neill must be furious, Harewood warms up on the sidelines to fire a warning shot to the Villa players.

Carew shows some good skill to round a Sunderland defender, and on the edge of the box, the fans urge him to shoot, however Sunderland defend well and get away with the ball.

The game restarts and Villa will be looking to vastly improve on that first half performance, however Sunderland, fighting for their Premiership status, wont lie down so easily.

The whistle goes, and the score remains goal-less as both sides fail to create many chances of note, however Sunderland will still be angered by the failure to punish Carson in the 23rd minute for handball.

Almost into the break now, and both sides will be looking to not concede at such a crucial stage of the half.

Gordon makes a good recovery save from Carew after originally spilling a Villa corner.

Nosworthy is back on and looking like he has received no ill effects from that original injury.

Nyron Nosworthy is receiving treatment off the pitch after landing awkwardly from an ariel challenge.

Craig Gardner misplaces another pass, the replacement defender has not been having a very good first half.

Phil Bardsley is booked for a foul on John Carew.

With so many other important relegation games taking place today, Sunderland will need to make sure they do their bit to ensure Premiership saftey.

Despite the difference in the league table, both teams are at an even keel in the first half hour of this game.

O'Donovan jumps up unmarked in the box and heads over from close range after Murphy's crossed, and that was another good chance for the Sunderland striker there.

Sunderland appeal strongly after it appears that Carson handles the ball outside his box after mis-handling a cross, the referee says no and waves play on.

O'Donovan wastes a good chance for Sunderland, Kieran Richardson supplied the pass, and about 12 yards out, O'Donovan skies his effort.

Not much in the way of notable chances so far in this game, the cold and windy conditions however, certainly wont be helping anyone.

It's Sunderland's home form that have kept them above the relegation zone so far this season, Villa will be boosted by the fact that the Black Cats however, have failed to win away all season.

The windy conditions takes its toll on Martin Laursen's shot as the effort goes high over the bar.

John Carew attempts an outragous overhead kick inside the box after Agbonlahor supplied, the ball goes just wide of the post, that was the best chance of the game so far.

A fairly tepid start to this game, and Sunderland will be looking to keep things tight against a Villa side that have scored twice as many goals as them this season.

Sunderland have history against them as the Black Cats have gone since 1982 since last winning at Villa Park, and with striker Kenwyne Jones out with the flu, the odds continue to stack up against the visitors.

With Villa pushing for Europe, and Sunderland battling against relegation, this game has the potential to be a real Premierhsip classic as Howard Webb gets this game underway.

After missing out against Chelsea, Chopra returns to the bench with Richardson and Murphy starting as the Black Cats begin with: Gordon, Bardsley, Evans, Nosworthy, Collins, Edwards, Whitehead, Richardson, Reid, O'Donovan, Murphy

Olef Mellberg serves a one match suspension and is replaced by Craig Gardner as Villa start with: Carson, Gardner, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Maloney, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew