Black Cats Blow It Against Villa

A mistake by Lee Catermole gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day in a game that Sunderland would never have won.

A poor display by the home side made the visitors look better than they were, yet they still could have won the game by a bigger margin.

Gabriel Agbonlahor was on the mark again for the visitors when he was quick to pounce on a mistake by Catermole, go round the keeper with the ball and slot home to give the Black Cats facing an uphill task after just 15 minutes.

The home side’s luck was totally out when they did force an equaliser through Giaccherini that looked okay, but was chalked off for offside.

Emanuele Giaccherini and Steven Fletcher also had above average chances to get the home side back into the game but neither could take advantage.

Sunderland now sit a point behind West Ham and four adrift of safety, but another winnable game on paper has passed by.

(More to follow)