Match Reports

Aston Villa 2 Sunderland 1

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Sunderland produced a good display at Villa Park although they will be kicking themselves for not defending set pieces better.

Sunderland took an early lead through Cisse but conceded two goals following Villa free kicks.

Keane named eight changes to the side that started against Northampton in the Carling Cup.

Sunderland started the game brightly and found themselves one nil up after Malbranque played a wonderful through ball for Cisse to run on to and despatch his shot past Friedel.

Villa hit back almost instantly when Miller fouled Young on the edge of the area. From the resulting freekick Young curled a sublime shot into the top corner leaving Gordon no chance.

Villa then managed to get themselves in front from another free kick. Young`s shot hit the wall and somehow found if way to Carew who back healed his effort in from on the line.

Sunderland`s only other chance was near the end of the game when Chimbonda was felled just outside the area. Andy Reid took the resulting free kick but his effort was just narrowly wide.




Sunderland Line Up 4-4-2

Gordon 7
Chimbonda 7
Collins 6
Ferdinand 7
McCartney 7
Malbranque 7
Whitehead 6
Miller 6 (Reid 7)
Richardson 7 (Stokes 6)
Diouf 7 (Murphy 6)
Cisse 7


Subs not used

Fulop
Chopra
Healy
Henderson
Match comment
So close yet so far Keane will no doubt have his team working on how to defend free kicks after seeing his side concede two goals from dead ball situations.

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7 comments

  • Sindbad says:

    I cannot believe Sunderland didn’t come away with points today against Villa. O’Neill is supposed to be one of the best managers in the Premiership — but any manager whose team has less than 50% possession in a home game hasn’t got it right. My view is O’Neill got lucky today. I’m a Man City supporter so I was listening to you play today and it seemed you had all the moves, just couldn’t convert the chances. You know , O’Neill has organised his team like that for years. Even when at Leicester it was ten points gained a year because the big front man Heskey dug them out. Now he’s got Carew. Sunderland are much better this year and should have won today. All that possession should have counted.

  • Blitz says:

    Good game lads, And good luck.

  • Adam Deuce says:

    I really enjoyed today at VP. Slightly below average crowd which was disappointing considering it was our first home 3pm Saturday kick off but that didn’t in anyway detract from a fiercely fought game. Good luck with the rest of the season. Every Maccam I’ve ever met has been unbelievably passionate about their club. Which is why I genuinely wish you luck.

  • storagematt says:

    Outside the ‘top 4’ Villa are probably the best team around, so no disgrace.

  • merlin says:

    did Roy Keane blow a fuse afterwards?

  • Villan-in-Cyprus says:

    Sinbad, I suppose we were lucky against you as well were we? 4-2 wasn’t it? And you expect people to take you seriously when you criticise Martin O’ Neill? Correct me if i’m wrong Sinbad, but your manager has never won one single solitary trophy in his 10 year managerial career? Man City fans make me laugh, they’re like the new Spurs. This is where they start promising to take the Premier League by storm. Well let me tell you, the rest of the league is really quivering in our boots at the prospect of playing the giant world footballing force that is Manchester City. You are a joke and your club is a nobody. However on a different note, Sunderland are a decent side and gave us a difficult test last weekend. Luckily i’m back in the UK for a few weeks so I managed to go. Good atmosphere and the Sunderland fans backed their side quite well. Good luck for the season and i’m sure you’ll finish higher than the silly bunch of faggots (aka Man City)

  • lil blackpoolgas says:

    unlukeie aganist villa you may win next time.

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