Sunderland twice came from behind to salvage a point against Aston Villa at the SOL on Saturday afternoon. Villa went in front midway through the first half through Petrov only to be pegged back five minutes before half time with Connor Wickham notching his first goal for the lads. James Collins looked to have sealed all three points for the visitors with a headed goal five minutes from time only for Stephane Sessegnon to pop up in the last minute and give Sunderland a share of the spoils.

Only one thing dominated the build up to the game and that was the return to Sunderland of Darren Bent for the first time since his move to Aston Villa in January. Steve Bruce was spot on during the week when he suggested that Bent could have written himself into SAFC folklore had he stayed on Wearside for longer than 18 months and continued to perform. Sadly, no matter what he says, money talks and Bent chased the pound signs South spouting that he was signing to play with better players even though everyone knew Stewart Downing and Ashley Young were on their way in the summer.

Anyway enough about him and onto players who do want to be at the club and having won last weekend at Bolton Steve Bruce named an unchanged side. The lads went in search of consecutive victories and looked to improve our poor home record which has seen us lose eight out of our last 11 in the Premiership. Meanwhile Villa who had a decent start to the season headed north having lost their last two league outings boasting a supporting pantomime villain cast to Darren Bent of former Mags Shay Given, Charles N’Zogbia with Stephen Ireland on the bench.

We started the brighter of the sides with Seb Larsson testing Shay Given from a long range free kick before the Swede again caused problems with a free kick from the right wing which just evaded Michael Turner’s head. Connor Wickham had his first sight of goal after ten minutes but his shot went wide before Darren Bent, who was booed every time he even went close to the ball, had his first sight of goal after fifteen minutes but he put his shot wide.

Despite pretty much controlling the opening twenty minutes of the game Villa took the lead with a great strike from Petrov. Sunderland surrendered possession from a corner before the defence backed off allowing Alan Hutton to feed Stiliyan Petrov in acres of space. The midfielder had one touch before lashing the ball into the top corner with his left foot past the helpless Mignolet.

We responded to going behind well with Turner heading over from a corner before Stephen Warnock cleared Wickham’s shot off the line. With ten minutes of the second half left we lost John O’Shea to injury who was replaced by Phil Bardsley who took over the captain’s armband.

Five minutes before half time we drew level with a well worked goal first SAFC goal for Connor Wickham. The lads were patient in the build up to the goal with Colback and Bendtner exchanging passes before Sessegnon collected the ball on the edge of the box. Sessegnon played an inch perfect pass to Wickham who did well shrugging off the challenge of Collins before firing the ball into the bottom left hand corner across Shay Given. Villa had a half chance to retake the lead just before half time but Agbonlahor glanced a header wide.

After the break Steve Bruce was forced to make his second substitution of the game in the opening five minutes of the half when Mignolet got whacked in the face punching a corner away. The Belgian keeper went off clutching a towel to his nose as blood poured out of his face and was replaced by Westwood.

Villa started getting the better of the second half without really creating too many clear opportunities though Kieran Richardson did well to block N’Zogbia’s shot after the French winger cut in on his left and fired goal wards. With twenty minutes to go the chance we all knew eventually would fall to Bent’s feet did after the hit man exchanged passes with Agbonlahor. Fortunately for us Bent bottled his big moment firing straight at Westwood who saved with his legs.

As the game looked to be heading for a stalemate Villa took the lead with five minutes to go after Larsson conceded a free kick on the right wing. Petrov whipped in a wicked free kick which James Collins thundered into the back of the net. That looked to have sealed all three points for the visitor until we equalised with a minute to go from another set piece. Larsson’s corner wasn’t cleared by the Villa defence and the smallest player on the pitch Stephane Sessegnon managed to flick his header into the back of the net.

Despite four minutes injury time neither side could muster a winner and overall the draw was probably a fair result.

Final Score – Sunderland 2 Aston Villa 2

ALS Man of the Match – Stephane Sessegnon

Aidan Crowe

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