Sunderland battled to the last at Villa Park but Chris Coleman’s tenure started with a narrow defeat as Aston Villa clinched three points on Tuesday evening.
The Villan’s struck first blood but the Black Cats responded only for a cruel second to double the deficit, but they never stopped going and Lewis Grabban pounced in the 72nd minute to ignite hopes of a comeback.
And although it wasn’t to be, there were plenty of positives to take as the severely-depleted Black Cats showed plenty of fight throughout the 90 minutes.
BATTERED AND BRUISED
In truth, there wasn’t much Coleman could do and his first starting XI practically chose itself as the Black Cats lined up against the Villans. Billy Jones, Lamine Kone, Marc Wilson, Jonny Williams and Duncan Watmore all missed out through injury, while Didier Ndong and Paddy McNair weren’t included in the squad as Lee Cattermole missed out through suspension. Ty Browning’s returned couldn’t have been timed better as he slotted into the back four, with Darron Gibson, George Honeyman, Callum McManaman and Lynden Gooch called into the frame.
VILLANS STRIKE FIRST
Sunderland made a combative start to the game and they weren’t afraid to get stuck in as Villa pressed hard in an attempt to monopolise the play. Grabban, who already has nine league goals to his name, made a lively start and occupied the acres of space between centre backs James Chester and Chris Samba, but with ten minutes played Steve Bruce’s men caught the Black Cats cold. After threatening in the final third, Adam Matthews switched off and he paid the price as Adomah connected with a looping cross to rifle the ball in at the near post.
CRUMBS OF COMFORT
The game continued in a similar fashion as Villa saw more of the ball and offered more in the final third, but there were crumbs of comfort for the new Black Cats boss as his side regrouped and remained determined at the back. Their resistance was almost broken when Robert Snodgrass bulldozed his way into the box and had the goal at his mercy, but Robbin Ruiter produced an excellent save to deny the midfielder. And there were further signs of encouragement heading into the interval – particularly via the flanks – as Bryan Oviedo, McManaman and Grabban toiled in the final third.
ONOMAH ON TARGET
When it rains, it pours. Sunderland’s luckless run continued early in the second period as Villa doubled their lead through Onomah. The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward crashed a hopeful effort towards goal but it took a wicked deflection off Browning and Ruiter was left rooted to the spot as it looped into the top corner. It was yet another cruel twist of fate and dashed any hopes of a comeback, with the Holt End given a shot in the arm as the decibels rose and the home side grew in confidence.
LIFELINE
Grabban has been sensational this season and he netted his tenth goal of the season to hand the Black Cats a lifeline heading into the final 15 minutes. Fresh off the bench, James Vaughan played his part as an additional pressure up top put the pressure on Villa and they failed to clear, with Grabban playing the poacher’s role to scoop the ball home and send the away end into raptures. Joel Asoro was brought on instantly as Coleman sensed a late twist and the home side grew anxious.
Aston Villa: Johnstone, Taylor, Samba, Chester, Whelan (Jedinak, 63), Snodgrass, Hourihane, Onomah, Hutton, Adomah (Elmohamady, 87), Davis (Grealish, 75).
Subs: Steer, De Laet, Lansbury, Bjarnason
Sunderland: Ruiter, Matthews, Browning, O’Shea, Oviedo, Gibson (Robson, 86), Honeyman, McManaman (Asoro, 73), McGeady, Gooch (Vaughan, 63), Grabban.
Subs: Steele, Love, Galloway, Beadling.