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Full-Tiime: ASTON VILLA 2-1 SUNDERLAND. Villa claim maximum points, fighting back with goals from Ashley Young and Carew after Cisse gave Sunderland the lead.
Gabriel Agbonlahor wins a free kick to ease the pressure.
There are four minutes of added time.
Carlos Cuellar comes on for Carew to shore up the home defence.
George McCartney's name goes into the book.
Sunderland are applying the pressure as they search for a late equaliser.
Stiliyan Petrov becomes the first player to be booked.
Andy Reid see his free kick drift agonizingly wide.
Villa look to be heading for their third successive 2-1 win.
Gabriel Agbonlahor goes down the flank but runs out of pitch.
Sunderland push forward but Steed Malbranque's cross is over the bar.
Anthony Stokes replaces Kieran Richardson for Sunderland as the visitors make their last switch.
John Carew puts in more defensive work as he clears for Villa.
James Milner's centre is cleared by George McCartney.
Gareth Barry strikes one with his left foot but the ball flies into the Holt End.
James Milner hangs in a great cross but Villa are unable to convert.
James Milner comes on in place of Nicky Shorey for Villa.
Sunderland are applying pressure on the Villa goal as Andy Reid begins to pull the strings in midfield.
Gabriel Agbonlahor's drive is deflected just wide of the upright.
The second half has so far failed to match the excitement of the first period.
Craig Gordon gathers from Ashley Young's fiercely driven cross.
Sunderland make a double switch Andy Reid replacing Liam Miller and Daryl Murphy on for El Hadji Diouf.
Luke Young clears the lines for villa from a lofted Sunderland ball.
Stilian Petrov looks to be in pain after a clash with Steed Malbranque.
John Carew on defensive duties clears from Kieran Richardson's cross.
The second half has been low-key start apart from Miller's strike.
Liam Miller grazes the sidenetting with a driven effort.
Curtis Davies hits a searching ball forward but can't find a Villa shirt.
The second half is underway. Villa will be looking for more of the same. Sunderland will be hoping to get back into the game.
Villa lead at the break, goals from Young and Carew seeing them fight back after Cisse gave Sunderland the lead.
Gareth Barry's strike is smothered by Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon.
Nigel Reo-Coker puts in another great tackle. He has been impressive for Villa.
El Hadji Diouf pumps the ball forward but it runs out harmlessly for a goal kick to Villa.
John Carew drags his shot across the face of goal.
Sunderland will want to get back into this game after initially taking the lead.
Villa take the lead as John Carew back heels the ball past Craig Gordon from Stilian Petrov's pull-back.
The game has calmed down after a blistering start to the contest.
Danny Collins is receiving treatment after picking up a knock.
Brad Friedel collects comfortably from Kieran Richardson's cross.
Gabriel Agbonlahor looked to break for Villa but is let down by his touch.
George McCartney's cross is defelected out for a Sunderland corner.
Gabriel Agbonlahor unleases a shot but doesn't trouble Craig Gordon.
Villa equalise, Ashley Young beating Craig Gordon with a delightful curling free kick.
Steed Malbranque chips forward but Gareth Barry beats Djibril Cisse to the ball.
Sunderland look full of confidence after that goal.
Djibril Cisse produces a cool finish after being put in by an excellent angled ball from Steed Malbranque.
El Hadji Diouf tries to find Pascal Chimbonda but Ashley Young gets a foot in.
Nicky Shorey tries to lay the ball into the path of Gabriel Agbonlahor but Dean Whitehead intercepts.
Liam Miller strikes a shot from a tigh position, forcing Brad Friedel into the save.
It's a quiet start to this game, Villa just about edging possession.
Referee Peter Walton gets what should be a cracking clash underway.
Villa are unchanged once more.
George McCartney returns for Sunderland, but Phil Bardsley misses out with an ankle problem.
Steve Sidwell is unavailable for Villa with calf and knee problems.
Aston Villa quickly recovered from their embarrassing midweek defeat at the hands of QPR to maintain their top-four challenge with a fine fight back inspired by the scintillating form of Ashley Young. Villa, beaten only once in six games, demonstrated their class with Young scoring direct from a free-kick and John Carew notching a cheeky winner. Sunderland boss Roy Keane, who was far from happy in midweek following the display against Northampton, was even more distressed by his side's defensive performance against Villa when they weakly surrendered an early advantage. The fact that Sunderland were unable to cash in only highlighted the problems for Keane's team. But it is little wonder that the Irishman is prepared to break the bank to acquire Dijbril Cisse on a permanent basis after the on-loan striker from Marseille scored a fine opening goal. Under pressure Sunderland survived several Villa attacks and the perfect antidote was provided by Cisse when the striker rocked the Midland club with the opening goal after ten minutes. The goal was created by Steed Malbranque showing vision in pushing the ball into an open space to enable Cisse to run across and shoot first time low past Brad Friedel. Villa's response was to pressurise Sunderland and it resulted in a spectacular equaliser from Young in the 18th minute. The young Villa winger was knocked off the ball by Liam Miller, but the former Watford player picked himself up and promptly swirled in a low free-kick to the right of Craig Gordon's groping hands. Sunderland's defence was hardly secure from Young's free-kicks as Villa took a 33rd minute lead when the youngster's shot was blocked out to the right. Stiliyan Petrov gained possession and his low cross was flicked into the net by Carew with his back to the Sunderland goal. Only a brave save by Gordon prevented Gareth Barry scoring just before half-time following a low, left-wing cross from Carew. The skill of Young was again a delight to watch and why he is not in the England team is a mystery to manager Martin O'Neill. Sunderland's introduction of Andy Reid appeared to give them a better balance, but the equaliser eluded them despite producing more attacking moves than in the first half.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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