Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1 - Report

Yet anyone who actually watched the game at the Stadium of Light would know such a statement borders on the laughable.

Now five matches into the season and still searching for their first win, this Villa team are going nowhere fast.

What looked a tricky trip to face newly-promoted Sunderland turned into a wonderful opportunity to claim their first victory, when Reinildo Mandava saw red in every sense after kicking out at Matty Cash just past the half-hour mark.

Villa could not accept the gift, not even after Mackems keeper Robin Roef’s had given them another helping hand when he let Cash’s, admittedly powerfully struck shot through his hands midway through the second half.

Wilson Isidor took advantage of slack Villa defending to level things up and the home side hung on for a well-deserved point, Ollie Watkins somehow missing a free header in stoppage time.

That came as the visitors pushed in vain for a winner but in truth it was too little, too late. Playing more than an hour against 10 men, including stoppages, they created few chances. This draw will feel every bit like a defeat and the display was arguably their worst of the campaign so far.

Though the season is young, Villa are already falling some distance behind those teams they expect to be fighting for the European places.

Nothing about their performances so far, however, would suggest the top half of the table is going to be their concern this term.

Thursday’s Europa League opener against Bologna offers another chance to find some positivity though it is two home Premier League matches, against Fulham and then Burnley, which loom particularly large. 

After a rather sleepy opening 10 minutes it was the home side who crafted the game’s first real opening, Wilson Isidor heading over at the near post from Chemsdine Talbi’s cross.

Isidor then had two shots blocked. The first, by Tyrone Mings, never seriously looked like troubling the goal yet the second, from Ezri Konsa, appeared far more crucial, the striker having found space in the box after Chemdine Talbi had escaped the attentions of Boubacar Kamara and slid a pass between the two Villa centre-backs.

The visitors, as has been the case all season, were struggling to do anything going forward, Morgan Rogers touching the ball just twice in the opening 20 minutes.

But the England international then won a free-kick and when the ball fell to him again after Cash’s delivery was half cleared, he found Evann Guessand eight yards out. The latter had the time to take a touch but then placed his shot straight at Roefs, with Watkins flagged offside as he tried to scramble the rebound.

It was the best chance of the half but thanks to Mandava’s rush of blood, not the biggest talking point.

There was no doubt Cash was clumsy, barging into the Sunderland man after the ball had been played. Yet the reaction was daft, Mandava thrusting a leg toward his opponent’s groin.

Referee Sam Barrott, who may have been advised by fourth official Bobby Madley, wasted little time in producing the red card. Video assistant James Bell did not need to look at too many replays to deem the decision correct.

The onus was now on Villa to attack but it was the home side who next came closest to breaking the deadlock early in the second half.

Nordi Mukiele’s long throws were a danger and when Villa failed to clear, chaos briefly reigned in the box with Mings heading a cross out of Martinez’s hands and Cash then getting his clearance completely wrong. Villa just could not get the ball away but escaped when Alderete’s header looped over Martinez and off the underside of the bar.

Sunderland were suddenly doing all of the attacking and another set piece ended with three Villa players down in the box as the home side tried to muscle the ball over the line.

Emery made changes with the ineffective Emi Buendia replaced by Elliott, who had a shot blocked behind after a neat exchange with Rogers.

Yet the direct approach from the hosts was continuing to cause problems, Isidor hooking over from another corner which the visitors struggled to defend.

Villa had still only registered one effort on target to that point and none with the man advantage. The manner with which Cash then hit his shot which broke the deadlock therefore felt borne almost out of frustration.

A corner, which should perhaps have been a free-kick after Trai Hume appeared to hack down Rogers, was worked out to the right-back in space and his shot went through the hands of Roef to give his team the lead.

Emery brought Donyell Malen off the bench and he immediately had a chance to double the lead but was dispossessed racing through on goal by Mukiele.

It was a moment which loomed larger just minutes later when Isidor levelled things up. Once again Villa failed to clear their lines and when Granit Xhaka headed the ball back into the box, Isidor prodded home from close range having got the wrong side of Cash.

Villa came close to a winner, Elliott shooting just wide before Watkins somehow missed Jadon Sancho’s stoppage time cross.

Sunderland (4-3-3): Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava, Rigg (Ballard 37), Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi (Masuaku 80), Isidor (Mayenda 81), Le Fee (Geertruida 81) Subs not used: Neil, Geetruida, Brobbey, Mayenda, Adingra, Traore, Patterson (gk).

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne (Maatsen 58), Kamara (Bogarde 82), McGinn, Guessand, Rogers (Sancho 82), Buendia (Elliott 58), Watkins Subs not used: Torres, Lindelof, Jimoh-Aloba, Bizot (gk).