Dead Black Cats 0-3 Aston Villa

[CT]

I look at Sunderland and just think "there but for the grace" and all that....

We could have been them very easily.

Really hope Leeds beat Barcelona tonight now!

[JD]

Great easy and routine win. That's what i like to see.

[Bad English]

I forgot to watch the game. Nothing to do with me going on the lash after a meeting at work, oh no! Thank fuck I only had one lesson at 8am today.

[fbriai]

Another good win last night. Let's do Wolves now!

[mr underhill]

fuck me there's a titanic struggle going on here for 2nd - here's hoping Fulham and Cardiff crack . UTV!

[JUAN PABLO]

Two away games and not been at our best but scored 7 goals . I will take that .

Lets keep building the confidence and beat Cardif when we play them , Its all in our court then.

my only gripe ( a small ome ) Taylor . Does he always pass it back to the keeper when there was so many times he can pass the ball forward . The sooner Hutton replaces him the better for the team.

[andyh]

fuck me there's a titanic struggle going on here for 2nd - here's hoping Fulham and Cardiff crack . UTV!

I think you'll find that's 1st and 2nd !!!! :-)

[mrfuse]

Sod this auto promotion lark, Bruce has declared we’re gunning for the league!

Id like to see that confident statement displayed in our football on Saturday. I don't like to sound too negative, but I don't feel we go up against the better teams with that fighting we can take you on talk.

[UK Redsox]

Despite how crap Sunderland are, they're still only four points from safety. QPR downwards are probably still in trouble

[darren woolley]

I'm pleased with the three points and another clean sheet Sunderland look doomed Jack played well when he came on happy days.

[Brassneck]

I'm pleased with the three points and another clean sheet Sunderland look doomed Jack played well when he came on happy days.

Big decision for Bruce on Saturday now. Assuming Jack starts, he has to drop either Grabban or Hogan, neither of whom have done anything wrong. For me, I'd start with Grabban as I think he's more likely to score but in doing so, how much would it knock Hogan's confidence?

[Smoke]

All the love and pity for Sunderland.

Didn't they have a board member on a panel veto a work permit for a promising goal keeper we were trying to sign whilst both clubs were in a relegation battle?

Also while still employing and playing the nonce footballer knowing he was going to plead guilty.

Fuck em.

[cdbearsfan]

The fanbase aren't responsible for either of those incidents, and I'm pretty sure that most Sunderland fans dislike their Board. They have basically been a North-East version of Villa for the last eight years. Good luck to them, send the Heathens down. Preferably with some bland, pointless, team like Reading.

[mallo]

First half we were a bit slow but did enough, second half because they upped the tempo a bit we reacted quite well, but we really didn't have to do very much. Sunderland was like watching us 2 years ago when a.n. other mediocre Premiership team arrived at Villa Park. I do feel for the fans as they deserve better.

We had quite good seats near the dugout so a few observations from there :
- the away support was immense - the only area of the ground which was full and easily the loudest in the ground
- Taylor plays a little too far forward behind Albert
- Grabban looks really useful, so I would start him ahead of Hogan, which is harsh but he adds a bit more
- Grealish when he came on changed us from being workmanlike to coherant - he really does provide the link between midfield and attack
- Whelan played well and only put 1 pass astray, but Jedinak was immense and Bjarnesson really does provide more movement
- Snodgrass got a comment from Bruce in the second half which I thought a bit odd, but he shouted - Snoddy - you've not had a touch for 5 minutes - sort it out. No-one else got anything.
- The 2 coaches were very involved, especially with the front 2

Some random photos..

[Chris Jameson]

Travelling down to Villa matches over the years I've quite often encountered Sunderland supporters on the train when they've been playing away and they have always seemed a decent bunch.