Express & Star

16.52: Full time at Villa. Disaster for MON and Villa, they are in danger of slipping into mid-table obscurity.

Villa remain in seventh but with Blackburn and Man City closing on them.

16.45: Agbonlahor sees Gordon save his effort and it’s not Villa’s day.

16.43: Sunderland take the lead through Chopra. Long ball from Richardson splits the Villa defence and Chopra lifts the ball over Carson.

Sunderland have not won away in the Premier League since beating Albion two seasons ago.

16.41: Still precious little sign of a goal for either team. The full house deserve better.

16.35: Nash: “Villa are struggling to break down Sunderland’s massed defence”.

16.29: Harewood stabs over from 15 yards.

16.27: It’s all Villa pressure but there are very few clear cut chances. Harewood looks Villa most likely scorer.

16.14: Harewood comes on for Reo Coker and seconds after coming on he goes through and sends a shot a foot wide. Best chance of the game for Villa.

16.13: The biggest cheer of the half has come when Marlon Harewood starts warming up. Quality thin on the ground, according to Nash.

16.11: Villa still lacking cutting edge and a bit of confidence.

16.07: Back underway at Villa Park.

15.48: Half time and more frustration for Villa as it’s 0-0.

15.44: Frustration growing at Villa Park as the game remains goalless.

15.36: Villa win a free kick in a terrific position. Maloney takes it but it goes just over the bar.

15.30: Nash: “Sunderland had come into the game and it was Villa looking the edgier side”.

15.25: Mistake from Carson as he fumbles a cross and then appears to handle outside his area. Howard Webb ignores it though and Villa escape.

15.20: Sunderland escape their half to see O’Donovan shoot over from 12 yards.

15.18: Our man at Villa Park Tim Nash says: “Villa are camped almost exclusively in the Sunderland half”.

15.13: Laursen shoots over from 40 yards. Shouldn’t have listened to those cries of SHOOT from the Holte.

15.10: Villa look sharp and a series of crosses cause Sunderland problems.

15.08: Carew sends an overhead kick inches wide and the visitors are under pressure.

15.06: First effort of the game from the visitors as O’Donovan shoots into the side netting.

15.04: Quiet start at Villa Park but Sunderland are missing main striker Kenwyne Jones, who is unwell.

14.59: About to kick off in front of a full house at Villa Park.

14.42: Pre match boost for Villa as Spurs beat Portsmouth 2-0. That means a win takes Villa sixth and into the Intertoto spot.

14.36: Scott Carson was struggling with a knee injury but has made it today. Would you have kept faith with him Villa fans?

14.19: One change for Villa. Gardner for Laursen.

Villa: Carson, Gardner, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Maloney, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young; Carew, Agbonlahor.

Subs: Taylor, Harewood, Salifou, Petrov, Osbourne.

14.00: Villa’s European hopes have suffered a severe dent recently with only one point from the last two games.

A win is a must today - but struggling Sunderland will surely fight hard for every scrap.

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