Wilson Isidor rescued ten-men Sunderland a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light.
Isidor netted Sunderland’s 75th-minute equaliser from Granit Xhaka’s 75th-minute headed pass to salvage a point in a scrappy contest at the Stadium of Light.
Villa claimed an unexpected 67th-minute lead after Boubacar Kamara’s pass was blasted into the top-right corner by Matty Cash from circa 20 yards, albeit via a sloppy deflective touch off the palms of Robin Roefs.
Sunderland had played just over a hour with ten men after Reinildo Mandava was red carded for violent conduct in the 33rd minute, due to a retaliation kick-out at Cash following a foul.
Sunderland now sit seventh on goal difference from eighth-placed Fulham, whilst Villa moved up to third-bottom on goal difference above West Ham.
Having taken seven points from their first four league games back in the Premier League, Sunderland continued to showcase their early-season confidence with a dominant opening phase, in which Wilson Isidor headed Chemsdine Talbi’s cross wide in the 13th minute.
Isidor then fired wide twice as Sunderland continued to keep Villa pinned inside their own half with a controlled dominant press, until Matty Cash put a 22nd-minute cross wide in a rare venture forward for the visitors.
Villa won another chance three minutes later from a foul by Enzo Le Fee which allowed Cash to put a free-kick into the box which was nodded into the path of Morgan Rogers, who teed up Evann Guessand but the Ivory Coast international fired straight into Roefs.
Sunderland however were reduced to ten men in the 34th minute after Cash fouled Mandava who retaliated with a tame kick-out at the Polish right-back, which sent Cash theatrically slumping to ground clutching his stomach and referee – Samuel Barrott showed Mandava the red card.
Regis Le Bris in response substituted Chris Rigg for Dan Ballard and switched the Black Cats to a 5-3-1 formation, which kept a re-energised Villa at bay until half-time, although Emiliano Buendia fired a 41st-minute rebound strike over the bar after Roefs’ punched clearance left the net empty.
Villa’s frustrations continued early in the second half as Sunderland continued to press them into their own box with a series of attacks and corners, during which Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele saw headers hit the bar and go wide respectively.
Isidor then fired wide from Mukiele’s headed 64th-minute pass as the Black Cats continued to waste chances.
Villa however were dealt a huge slice of luck three minutes later after Matty Cash unleashed a circa 20-yard strike which deflected into the top-right corner from Roef’s mispositioned attempt to collect the ball in his palms, in-turn gifting Villa their first league goal of the season.
Sunderland however refused to fold and forced a 75th-minute equaliser after Xhaka played a headed pass forward for Isidor to calmly slot in past Martinez.
Harvey Elliott, Cash and Jadon Sancho saw late chances denied as Villa finished with a flourish yet were denied their first victory of the campaign by a resilient Sunderland defence.
What’s Next?
Sunderland face an away double-header in their next two league matches as they head to Nottingham Forest on Saturday 27 September at 5:30pm BST, before visiting Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 4 October.
Le Bris’ Black Cats are next at home after October’s international break as they host Wolves in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 18 October.
Villa turn their attention to the start of their Europa League campaign at home to Bologna on Thursday 25 September, before resuming league duty against Fulham at Villa Park on Sunday 28 September at 2pm BST.
Teams
Sunderland: Robin Roefs, Trai Hume, Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, Reinildo Mandava, Chris Rigg (Ballard 37′), Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki (Neil 91′), Chemsdine Talbi (Masuaku 80′), Wilson Isidor (Mayenda 80′), Enzo Le Fee (Geertruida 81′)
Substitutes: Simon Adingra, Brian Brobbey, Dan Ballard, Lutsharel Geertruida, Arthur Masuaku, Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Neil, Alex Patterson, Bertrand Traore
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne (Elliott 58′), John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara (Bogarde 82′), Evann Guessand (Malen 73′), Morgan Rogers (Sancho 82′), Emiliano Buendia (Maatsen 58′), Ollie Watkins
Substitutes: Marco Bizot, Lamare Bogarde, Harvey Elliott, Pau Torres, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen, Victor Lindelöf, Jadon Sancho
Referee – Samuel Barrott
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