- Aston Villa 4-3 Sunderland
- Ollie Watkins (2′, 36′), Morgan Rogers (46′), Tammy Abraham (93′)
- Chris Rigg (9′), Trai Hume (86′), Wilson Isidor (87′)
Aston Villa held on for a 4-3 win over Sunderland this afternoon, in what was a chaotic second half that saw three goals scored in the final ten minutes. Unai Emery’s side now strengthens their place in the Champions League spots, extending their gap to Chelsea in sixth to ten points.
It took Villa just under two minutes to take the lead. Matty Cash found John McGinn making a run inside the box, who lifted the ball to the far post for Ollie Watkins to head home. The striker continues his good form, making it his fifth in as many games.
The Black Cats responded positively, restricting the Villans to minimal possession. Their pressure paid off when Chris Rigg managed to equalise just seven minutes later.
The 18-year-old sweetly struck a curled finish into the far corner from inside the box, after Noah Sadiki laid it off. He becomes the third-youngest player to score a Premier League goal for Sunderland.
Amadou Onana hit the bar only a few minutes later from McGinn’s corner, but the Belgian was unable to keep his header down.
The game began to settle down from that moment. Both teams had spells of possession, but neither created any clear chances.
In the 36th minute, Watkins gave Villa the lead again. Morgan Rogers took on Nordi Mukiele on the left-hand side and managed to hold on to the ball despite being put under pressure.
His dribbling dragged Rigg towards him, allowing Ian Maatsen to make a run towards the byline. The Dutchman then fizzed the ball across the box for Watkins to score with another header.
Villa controlled the rest of the half, and they took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Like in the opening minutes of the game, Villa extended their lead almost instantaneously in the second half. As he often does, McGinn dispossessed Reinildo and allowed Villa to break forward. He passed it into Barkley, whose throughball was flicked on by Watkins to tee up for Rogers, who slotted it into the far post.
Unai Emery’s side began to dominate, as they looked more and more threatening in attack. McGinn ran down the right and crossed the ball dangerously into the box, but Watkins mis-timed his shot. However, it fell to Barkley, who had his shot saved by Roefs.
Villa were cruising until Jadon Sancho was dispossessed in his own half, leading to Trai Hume to strike from a tight angle.
Straight after the resulting kick-off, he was tackled again, which saw Wilson Isidor be played through on goal to score the leveller, after Martinez slipped.
Habib Diarra should have won the game for the Black Cats, in a frantic end to the match. His chip was superbly saved by Martinez, who then distributed it quickly for Villa to counter.
At the other end, Digne swung in a perfect cross for Tammy Abraham to flick it past Roefs, causing havoc in the stands.
The Villans held on, and will be relived their few minutes lapse in concentration didn’t cost them the three points.
Here are our Read Aston Villa’s full-time ratings:
Emi Martinez – 7
Martinez was unable to prevent Rigg’s equaliser in an otherwise untested first half. However, for the second 45, he had to stay alert. A couple of sharp stops were made before he was beaten at the near post by Hume. He then slipped and failed to stop Isidor’s strike for Sunderland’s third.
Yet in the final moments of the game, he was the difference maker. The Argentinian made a super save from Diarra’s chip, which he then quickly rolled out for Villa to go to the other end and score the winner.
Matty Cash – 7
Cash put in another strong performance, not misplacing a single pass in the first half. He defended well when needed, but otherwise had a quiet game.
Ezri Konsa – 6
Konsa had a 98% successful pass rate in the full 90 minutes, but was easily beaten by Isidor for Sunderland’s third. For his standards, he should have done a lot better.
Tyrone Mings – 6
It was Mings’ first game since the 15th March, and he defended well against Brobbery. Overall, however, it was an average display.
Ian Maatsen – 8
Maatsen had a really good game at left-back. He adds so much in attack for Villa compared to Lucas Digne. The Dutchman was found by Rogers inside the box, who then powerfully crossed across the goal for Watkins to head in from close range.
Amadou Onana – 7
Onana came close to quickly doubling Villa’s lead in the 15th minute when he rattled the crossbar. He was an enforcer in the middle, breaking up play when needed, and was rather accomplished on the ball.
Youri Tielemans – 7
Tielemans, as ever, was very composed on the ball and was a key component in the Villans’ buildup play. He won all five of his ground duels, but perhaps may have felt he could have closed down Rigg’s early equaliser.
John McGinn – 8
Although a relatively quiet first half for McGinn, the Scot’s cross inside the opening minutes was found by Watkins at the far post. He then dispossessed Reinildo in the buildup to Villa’s third, before being taken off in the 70th minute. It was another strong showing by the captain.
Ross Barkley – 7
Barkley wasn’t involved too much in the action today, but was part of the buildup to Villa’s third goal. At times, he found space behind the Black Cats’ midfield, but never took full advantage of it.
Morgan Rogers – 9
Rogers looks like he is growing back to his best form after another threatening performance by the 23-year-old. His smart play saw him play it into Maatsen, who crossed for Watkins’ second, before Rogers himself got on the scoresheet early on in the second half.
Ollie Watkins – 9
Two goals from Watkins today in another superb performance. Both headers were from close range, and he ran ragged around the Sunderland defenders. Six goals in his last five games, he’s making a real statement to earn his spot on the plane to the World Cup.
Substitutes:
Lucas Digne for Maatsen (70′) – 7
The Frenchman put in the delivery which Abraham flicked on for the winner.
Emi Buendia for Barkley (70′) – 6
Buendia didn’t make much of an impact when coming on.
Jadon Sancho for McGinn (79′) – 2
Sancho was dispossessed twice, with both causing Sunderland’s second and third. He will be relieved that Abraham scored late on.
Tammy Abraham for Watkins (79′) – 8
Despite not getting the minutes he would have liked in recent weeks, he made his cameo today count. Abraham cleverly flicked on Digne’s cross for the winner in the final moments of the match.
