In previous seasons, coming in to the New Year would mean a European push for Aston Villa and a mid-table scrap for the Black Cats. Unfortunately for Gerrard Houllier’s men, they find themselves in 18th position and only a point off rock bottom, where lonely West Ham sit after a disappointing loss at home to Sunderland.
Villa were coming off the back of a good point at struggling Chelsea, and every intention was made for a win with Houllier playing a 4-3-3 formation with young stars Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor feeding off the big man Emile Heskey. All signs led to a Villa victory after Young fed a through ball to Nigel Reo-Coker, who couldn’t quite reach the ball with the goal 10 yards in sight. Sunderland enjoyed most of the possession but couldn’t muster a serious attack with Richard Dunne and James Collins finding their best form.
Villa’s best chance was to come after 33 minutes. Carlos Cuellar thread a ball down the right wing for Stewart Downing to chase, and it looked to have too much power as Phil Bardsley shielded it out of play. But Downing managed to hook his foot around the right back and found himself through into the area unmarked. He squared the ball to Heskey, leaving keeper Gordon stranded, but Heskey’s poor scoring form continued as he miss kicked it onto the bar and back into the safe and relieved hands of Craig Gordon.
The second half started brightly forVilla with Heskey playing his best game of the season in terms of effort and skill. Friedel cleared and Heskey brought the ball down beautifully just inside Sunderland’s half. He sensed the crowd roaring his side on, hoping to find that illusive goal. He turned and beat two Sunderland defenders, finally being brought down on the edge of the area by Anton Ferdinand, only for Ashley Young to hit the resulting free kick way over the left upright.
Tension was starting to rise and after a heavy challenge from James Collins on Stede Malbranque, Sunderland’s young spark Jordan Henderson didn’t take kindly to this lunge and walked towards Heskey with anguish in his eyes, displaying his discontent. The referee put a halt to the scrap but after consulting the fourth official sent off Heskey for an apparent arm raise to Henderson’s chin. The Villa players thought a red was too much but the result was a fifteen minute push by Sunderland to find a winner. Steve Bruce brought on Asamoah Gyan for some firepower, replacing him with Malbranque. The change nearly worked on 75 minutes when a neat build up between Richardson and Henderson set up Zenden, only for his 15 yard effot to sail over Friedel’s bar.
A stalemate seemed inevitable, but on 81 minutes, the travelling supporters finally had something to cheer about. Sunderland won a corner after a cross from Richardson was deflected out by Clark. Richardson swung the ball in, but Collins’ clearance fell to the right back Bardsley, who took aim and fired a low and powerful shot into the bottom corner, with a slight deflection off defender Dunne. Friedel was stood shocked, and so were the home fans who sat disbeliefed as their team and manager fell under enormous scrutiny. Sunderland couldn’t believe that an away victory was again on the cards and looked comfortable playing against ten man Villa until Zenden got himself sent off for a second bookable offence. The last 6 minutes were spent with Villa launching balls into the box, leaving Richard Dunne up top to use as a big target, but the only chance Villa found was an Ashley Young shot just inside the box which Gordon always had covered. Sunderland had another chance to seal victory when Gyan was played through onside and one on one with the goalkeeper, but he failed to score, side footing his effort wide of the post.
When the final whistle finally went, jeers and boos arose from the Villa faithful, demanding the board depart ways with Houllier, but the Frenchman remains adament his young side can climb out of this mess and finish in a decent position. You hope for Houllier’s sake this happens soon, an away trip to hated rivals Birmingham and a home game with Man City says he hasn’t got much time left. In the mean time, it will be a happy journey back for the supporting Cats, with a sixth place finish looking ever more prominent.
