Aston Villa finally ended their Premier League goal drought but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against 10-man Sunderland on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s side went into the match as the only club across England’s top seven divisions yet to score this season. Villa were also under pressure to avoid becoming just the third team in top-flight history to go goalless in their first five matches.
The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when Matty Cash struck a swerving shot from 25 metres to give Villa the lead. However, despite playing with 10 men after Reinildo was sent off in the 33rd minute, Sunderland responded quickly. Just eight minutes later, Granit Xhaka’s headed pass set up Wilson Isidor, who calmly finished with his right foot to level the score.
Villa pushed hard in the final stages but missed chances through Harvey Elliott and Ollie Watkins, the latter failing to make the most of Jadon Sancho’s cross.
The result lifted Sunderland to seventh place on eight points, while Aston Villa climbed one spot to 18th with three points but remains in the relegation zone.
