Villa fight back to win

9:00pm Saturday 27th September 2008

Ashley Young made Sunderland pay for conceding two free-kicks in dangerous positions as Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1 and bolster their place in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

The Black Cats had taken the lead through Djibril Cisse after 10 minutes but Young quickly retaliated from 20 yards out after being brought down by Liam Miller.

Then Anton Ferdinand handled just outside the box and Young's free-kick deflected via Stiliyan Petrov to John Carew who grabbed the winner after 33 minutes.

Sunderland enjoyed plenty of possession with Steed Malbranque impressing in midfield, but captain Martin Laursen was again a rock-solid performer at the heart of the Villa back four while Stilian Petrov and Gareth Barry shone in midfield.

The first chance fell to Sunderland's Liam Miller, whose weak angled shot was easily dealt with by Brad Friedel.

Laursen had an opportunity to put Villa in front but directed a header straight at Craig Gordon.

Sunderland then snatched the lead when the influential Malbranque fed his fellow Frenchman who nipped between Laursen and Curtis Davies and planted a low shot home.

Villa's equalised in the 18th minute was worth waiting for. The former Watford player drilled a curling effort past the stranded Craig Gordon into the corner of the Sunderland net.

Villa went ahead through Carew in the 33rd minute when Petrov drilled a low cross into the danger area and Carew flicked it past Gordon for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Barry threatened a third Villa goal before the break, however after the interval Sunderland's Miller was only just too high with a dipping 30-yard effort.

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