Late penalty shout for Sunderland! Edwards drives to the byline and tries to cross but it is blocked by the arm of Young, however referee Dean deems it not enough for a penalty.

Superb block from Gardner! Andy Reid is played in by Whitehead but just as he pulls the trigger, Gardner slides in from nowhere to get his body in the way.

Carlos Edwards runs at Luke Young now and gets past him to the byline to drill the ball into the box but Friedel flies out to claim.

A long ball is looped in by Andy Reid and Kenwyne Jones gets a flick on but Brad Friedel is out to collect before Cisse can latch onto it.

The hosts are flying at Villa now as they throw the ball long towards the penalty area to try and force something.

No wonder Sunderland were so angry when the referee awarded the penalty! Replays suggest that McShane caught Agbonlahor outside of the penalty area and it should have only been a free-kick.

Penalty! Agbonlahor sprints towards the box with a bouncing ball and McShane comes in with a high foot and referee Dean points straight to the spot.

Suddenly Sunderland look like the side that started this game as they begin to knock it around in midfield and get Diouf and Cisse into the game.

Villa are smashing against the Sunderland door now but they are meeting with stubborn resistance.

Ashley Young is starting have an influence now as he runs at his full back before drifting a superb ball to the far post where Sidwell is inches away from connecting.

Gareth Barry curls a delightful free-kick towards the far post and Cuellar rises highest to meet it and force a good save from Fulop once more.

The onslaught is on from the visitors now and Sunderland are starting to fall further and further back and are only rarely threatening to break out.

Replays suggest that the ball certainly hit Milner on the chest before possibly skipping into the corner off his shoulder.

Whitehead steals the ball off Sidwell in midfield and slips a clever ball in behind for Kenwyne Jones who fires straight at Brad Friedel.

Sunderland are trying to take the sting out of this at the moment because they can see Villa are starting to up the ante - but for now they can't create.

Villa have clearly had an earful at the break from their manager as they have really upped the tempo since the interval.

A bright start from Villa after the break and Milner is involved again as he jinks away from Tainio before Collins is forced to bring him down.

There will be one minute of added time.

The Black Cats are looking a little nervous as they find themselves under the cosh as half-time approaches and Villa are growing in confidence.

Almost the equaliser! Diouf gives away a free-kick in shooting range and Young works a clever one with Petrov to find room for a screaming shot that shaves the outside of the post.

However, other Villains are trying to step up to the plate today with Petrov now crossing deep to the far post for Agbonlahor but Fulop comes out again to flick it off the striker's forehead.

Chimbonda, Nosworthy and Ferdinand are doing a superb job of cutting out the service to Young and Agbonlahor.

Nigel Reo-Coker is bursting forward with great gusto this afternoon from right-back and he gets to the byline again to drive a cross into the box and Fulop takes a good claim with Agbonlahor waiting to pounce.

When Sunderland apply pressure, they really apply pressure! Edwards delivers four corners back-to-back as Villa struggle to clear their lines. Eventually Ferdinand has a header at goal that skims the top of the net as it goes over.

It's starting to become a bit end-to-end now at the Stadium of Light as Villa become a threat but it is Reo-Coker and Milner causing the problems. Sunderland look dangerous on the break still.

Super save! Cisse holds the ball up well to roll it into the path of Whitehead who hits a fierce drive that Friedel does brilliatnly to finger-tip wide of the post.

The visitors are starting to find their rhythm as Barry, Sidwell and Petrov keep possession and begin to dictate the tempo but so far they have been unable to really create anything of note.

We are yet to see anything of Villa's dynamic duo of Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor but Sunderland's version of Cisse and Diouf are causing endless problems at the other end.

Sunderland are continuing to press on with Kenwyne Jones the latest to test Brad Friedel with a decent driven effort from the edge of the box.

The home crowd are vey loud now as they continue to celebrate their side taking the lead. This will be a real test of Aston Villa's credentials!

Mistake from Chimbonda as he lets Milner steal the ball off his foot and the winger drives to the box to curl a superb cross to the far post where Ashley Young is inches away from making contact.

El-Hadji Diouf is giving Luke Young a torrid time early on as he keeps beating the stand-in Villa left-back to the byline to fire dangerous crosses into the box.

Villa look sluggish and Sunderland are really trying to take advantage with a bright start as they get in amonsgt the Villa midfield and defence.

A penalty shout! Sunderland have half a shout at a penalty as Barry slices Cisse's cross onto the arm of Petrov but the referee is not interested.