Goals from former Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban, James Chester and Conor Hourihane ensured Aston Villa downed a dispirited Black Cats’ team.
Aston Villa defeated a lifeless Sunderland team on Tuesday.
Trotting out a healthier match-day eighteen, Steve Bruce was able to call upon Albert Adomah for his usual left wing role. Additionally, Jack Grealish was named to bench, where his 35-minute trot in the second-half puts him in good condition for this Saturday’s match with league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sunderland were quite poor in the first-half. Partly due to performance, partly due to Villa being simply better and partly through injury. First-choice center back Tyias Browning was withdrawn with a groin strain for Billy Jones. Captain, and fellow central defender John O’Shea, was taken off too, as Sunderland manager Chris Coleman switched to a back four.
Aston Villa got their first goal from a left wing cross via Albert Adomah. It soared over Jason Steele and onto Lewis Grabban’s head, where he connected with the back of the net. James Chester added Villa’s second, and his second on the season, right before halftime, hammering home a downward header.
Conor Hourihane added the third in the 66th-minute after a series of slick passing. His cross/shot hybrid deflected off Black Cats left back Bryan Oviedo, into the net. It would be Hourihane’s 10th goal on the season, but it might officially go down as an own goal.
All data provided by WhoScored match center. A test with league leaders Wolves await at the weekend.