Villa 1 Sunderland 1
Wednesday 24th March 2010, 9:39PM GMT.
Villa gained a point on their top four rivals but looked jaded as they laboured to a point against Sunderland.
Fraizer Campbell’s second goal in two games even had the visitors ahead, but John Carew’s equaliser before half-time restored parity for the claret and blues.
A sign of a tough night ahead came in just the 14th minute when Emile Heskey had to be replaced with a foot injury, throwing 19-year-old Nathan Delfouneso into the fray.
And Villa found themselves behind eight minutes later, with Campbell busting clear after being played in by ex-Albion loanee Kieran Richardson to coolly finish past goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
But Carew – who has shouldered the striking burden of late – hauled the home side back in it on the half hour, meeting Ashley Young’s cross with a neat volley.
The claret and blues huffed a puffed looking for the winner in the second-half but also lost James Milner on 77 minutes, who hobbled off to be replaced by Steve Sidwell.
Carew had just put a header over from close range but the best chance of all fell to Delfouneso in stoppage time, when the youngster stooped highest to meet Stephen Warnock’s cross but headed wide with the goal gaping.
Nonetheless, with their rivals for fourth place Tottenham and Liverpool not in Premier League action, coupled with Manchester City’s defeat at home to Everton, Villa were left a point nearer to the promised land.
But they are still four points off the last Champions League spot, ahead of the tough trip to second-placed Chelsea on Saturday.
UK Sport
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