• Date: Sat 27 September 2008
  • Venue: Villa Park
  • Ref: Walton, P
  • Attendance: 38,706
Aston Villa

Aston Villa

Young, A (18)

Carew (33)

2 - 1
Sunderland

Sunderland

Cisse (10)

Aston Villa vs Sunderland

Team Lineups

Aston Villa

Brad Friedel
Luke Young, L
Martin Laursen
Curtis Davies
Nicky Shorey (James Milner, 70)
Gareth Barry
Stiliyan Petrov
Nigel Reo-Coker
Ashley Young, A
John Carew (Carlos Cuellar, 90)
Gabriel Agbonlahor

Sunderland

Craig Gordon
Anton Ferdinand
George McCartney
Danny Collins
Pascal Chimbonda
Steed Malbranque
Liam Miller (Andy Reid, 59)
Kieran Richardson (Anthony Stokes, 79)
Dean Whitehead
Djibril Cisse
El Hadji Diouf (Daryl Murphy, 59)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

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.

90

Gabriel Agbonlahor wins a free kick to ease the pressure.

90

There are four minutes of added time.

89
Substitution
 

Carlos Cuellar comes on for Carew to shore up the home defence.

89
Yellow Card
 

George McCartney's name goes into the book.

88

Sunderland are applying the pressure as they search for a late equaliser.

86
Yellow Card
 

Stiliyan Petrov becomes the first player to be booked.

86

Andy Reid see his free kick drift agonizingly wide.

85

Villa look to be heading for their third successive 2-1 win.

82

Gabriel Agbonlahor goes down the flank but runs out of pitch.

80

Sunderland push forward but Steed Malbranque's cross is over the bar.

78
Substitution
 

Anthony Stokes replaces Kieran Richardson for Sunderland as the visitors make their last switch.

76

John Carew puts in more defensive work as he clears for Villa.

75

James Milner's centre is cleared by George McCartney.

73

Gareth Barry strikes one with his left foot but the ball flies into the Holt End.

71

James Milner hangs in a great cross but Villa are unable to convert.

69
Substitution
 

James Milner comes on in place of Nicky Shorey for Villa.

67

Sunderland are applying pressure on the Villa goal as Andy Reid begins to pull the strings in midfield.

65

Gabriel Agbonlahor's drive is deflected just wide of the upright.

63

The second half has so far failed to match the excitement of the first period.

61

Craig Gordon gathers from Ashley Young's fiercely driven cross.

59
Substitution
 

Sunderland make a double switch Andy Reid replacing Liam Miller and Daryl Murphy on for El Hadji Diouf.

57

Luke Young clears the lines for villa from a lofted Sunderland ball.

55

Stilian Petrov looks to be in pain after a clash with Steed Malbranque.

53

John Carew on defensive duties clears from Kieran Richardson's cross.

51

The second half has been low-key start apart from Miller's strike.

49

Liam Miller grazes the sidenetting with a driven effort.

47

Curtis Davies hits a searching ball forward but can't find a Villa shirt.

Second half
 

The second half is underway. Villa will be looking for more of the same. Sunderland will be hoping to get back into the game.

Half time
 

Villa lead at the break, goals from Young and Carew seeing them fight back after Cisse gave Sunderland the lead.

44

Gareth Barry's strike is smothered by Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon.

42

Nigel Reo-Coker puts in another great tackle. He has been impressive for Villa.

39

El Hadji Diouf pumps the ball forward but it runs out harmlessly for a goal kick to Villa.

37

John Carew drags his shot across the face of goal.

35

Sunderland will want to get back into this game after initially taking the lead.

33
Goal
 

Villa take the lead as John Carew back heels the ball past Craig Gordon from Stilian Petrov's pull-back.

30

The game has calmed down after a blistering start to the contest.

28

Danny Collins is receiving treatment after picking up a knock.

26

Brad Friedel collects comfortably from Kieran Richardson's cross.

24

Gabriel Agbonlahor looked to break for Villa but is let down by his touch.

22

George McCartney's cross is defelected out for a Sunderland corner.

19

Gabriel Agbonlahor unleases a shot but doesn't trouble Craig Gordon.

17
Goal
 

Villa equalise, Ashley Young beating Craig Gordon with a delightful curling free kick.

15

Steed Malbranque chips forward but Gareth Barry beats Djibril Cisse to the ball.

13

Sunderland look full of confidence after that goal.

10
Goal
 

Djibril Cisse produces a cool finish after being put in by an excellent angled ball from Steed Malbranque.

8

El Hadji Diouf tries to find Pascal Chimbonda but Ashley Young gets a foot in.

6

Nicky Shorey tries to lay the ball into the path of Gabriel Agbonlahor but Dean Whitehead intercepts.

4

Liam Miller strikes a shot from a tigh position, forcing Brad Friedel into the save.

2

It's a quiet start to this game, Villa just about edging possession.

Kickoff
 

Referee Peter Walton gets what should be a cracking clash underway.

Villa are unchanged once more.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

George McCartney returns for Sunderland, but Phil Bardsley misses out with an ankle problem.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Steve Sidwell is unavailable for Villa with calf and knee problems.