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This video can not be played Spirated 10-men Sunderland come from behind to secure crucial point At a glance Sunderland reduced to 10 after Reinildo dismissed for violent conduct Omar Alderete's header crashes against bar for hosts Matty Cash scores Villa's first goal of the season Wilson Isidor equalises with third top-flight goal Aston Villa's search for a first Premier League win goes on after 10-man Sunderland produced a spirited performance to come from behind and secure a crucial point. Black Cats defender Reinildo was shown a straight red card in the 33rd minute for violent conduct, kicking out at Matty Cash after being bundled over by the right-back. Sunderland dug in to frustrate the visitors and almost snatched the lead through Omar Alderete's 51st-minute header which crashed against the bar. Villa thought they had earned their first win of the season when Cash then scored from 25 yards, with goalkeeper Robin Roefs beaten by the vicious swerve of the strike. But the visitors were unable to build on scoring their first top-flight goal of the season, and Wilson Isidor equalised from close range after a headed assist by captain Granit Xhaka. Sunderland are now unbeaten in three top-flight matches and have eight points from five matches. Meanwhile, Villa have three and remain in the bottom three. This video can not be played BBC Sport Sunderland have rightly earned plaudits for the way they have adapted to life in the top flight since winning the Championship play-off final. After sweeping aside West Ham on the opening weekend of the season, they have also defeated Brentford and secured a point at FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. But Sunday's performance will have pleased boss Regis le Bris just as much as anything he has seen from his players so far this season as his players found a way to secure a draw despite playing for so long with 10 players. Sunderland showed an abundance of resilience and determination, and actually looked the better team after full-back Reinildo's dismissal. Despite falling behind, they showed character to equalise through French striker Isidor's third goal of the season - all at the Stadium of Light. It was a gutsy performance by Sunderland who, despite a busy summer in the transfer market, look at home in the Premier League, with this point adding to their growing early season momentum. 'Not the team they were' - should winless Villa be worried? This video can not be played BBC Sport Villa, who were without injured midfielder Youri Tielemans, will wonder how they allowed two points to slip away after Cash's goal had ended their long wait for a first league goal. Striker Ollie Watkins had a glorious chance to win it in stoppage time, but was unable to connect with Jadon Sancho's cross in what was another disappointing overall performance. There is little doubt Unai Emery's spell in charge at Villa has been impressive. Before the start of the season, the Spaniard averaged 1. 81 points per game, while they have finished the last two seasons fourth and sixth in the table. However, this latest campaign has started poorly. Not only are Villa struggling to kick-start their Premier League season, they are also out of Carabao Cup before the end of September. Villa lack confidence and have been unable so far to show the quality of the previous two campaigns. The pressure is likely to mount on Emery if they still remain winless after their next two league games at home to Fulham and Burnley. Sunderland are next at Nottingham Forest, who are yet to win since appointing Ange Postecoglou, on Saturday (17: 30 BST). They then go to Manchester United on 4 October (15: 00) and host bottom club Wolves in their first game back after the international break on 18 October (15: 00). Having finished sixth in the table last season, Aston Villa launch their Europa League campaign at home to Bologna on Thursday (20: 00). Their next two Premier League games are also at Villa Park - against Fulham on 28 September (14: 00) and Burnley on 5 October (14: 00). Have your say on Sunderland's performance What did you make of Aston Villa's display? After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 21st September 2025 at 19: 07 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Sunderland have won just one of their last 12 league meetings with Aston Villa (D5 L6), although that was the most recent Premier League game between the pair in January 2016 (3-1). Aston Villa completed a league double over Sunderland when they last faced in 2017-18 in the Championship and could win three in a row in the league against the Black Cats for the first time since December 2009 under Martin O’Neill. Sunderland are looking to win three consecutive home Premier League matches for the first time since February 2012, while a win in this game would see them equal their total wins at the Stadium of Light in their last top-flight campaign in 2016-17 (W3 D5 L11). Aston Villa have failed to score in their last five league games, only once having a longer run in their history (six between December 2014 and February 2015). Meanwhile, they could become just the third team in top-flight history to fail to score in any of their first five league games to a campaign after Ipswich Town (1970-71) and Crystal Palace (2017-18). Sunderland last won their first three home top-flight games in a season back in 1965-66, while the last newly promoted side to win their first three home games in the Premier League were Burnley in 2009-10. Aston Villa have lost none of their 15 Premier League games under Unai Emery against newly promoted sides (W12 D3) – their last defeat was in their last game under Steven Gerrard, losing 3-0 away at Fulham. Sunderland have scored five goals from just nine shots on target in the Premier League this season, with only Arsenal (64%) converting a higher share of their attempts on target than the Black Cats (56%). This will be Unai Emery’s first Premier League game against Sunderland – he has beaten 25 of the previous 27 clubs he’s previously faced with Arsenal and Aston Villa in the division, failing only against Ipswich (D2) and Liverpool (D4 L5). Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has been involved 12 goals in his last nine Premier League appearances against newly promoted clubs (6 goals, 6 assists). He’s currently level with Gabriel Agbonlahor (14 goals, 6 assists) for most goal involvements against promoted sides for Villa in the competition (10 goals, 10 assists). Wilson Isidor has scored in both of Sunderland’s home Premier League games so far this season. The last player to score in each of the Black Cats’ first three at the Stadium of Light was Darren Bent in 2010-11. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing. John Mc Ginn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland). Handball by Granit Xhaka (Sunderland). Offside, Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins is caught offside. Attempt saved. Evann Guessand (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Robin Roefs (Sunderland). Assisted by Morgan Rogers. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland). Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland). Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland). Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt saved. Omar Alderete (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). Assisted by Nordi Mukiele. Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ezri Konsa. Attempt blocked. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg. Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Chemsdine Talbi with a cross. Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Trai Hume. Foul by Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland). Evann Guessand (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.