Aston Villa 0, Sunderland 1

Mar 23 2008 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

MICHAEL CHOPRA was the Sunderland hero at Villa Park as he fired the Black Cats clear of the danger zone.

Chopra’s 83rd-minute goal was enough to earn Sunderland their first away win of the season – and their first win against Aston Villa in the Midlands for almost a quarter of a century.

The victory meant Roy Keane’s men leapfrogged Birmingham, who lost against Reading, to move up one place to fifth-bottom.

But more importantly, it doubled the gap between the Wearsiders and Bolton, who remain third bottom and in the relegation zone after their goalless draw with Manchester City, to four points.

Supersub Chopra’s goal was his fourth of the season, but his first from open play since August.

And it also ended the Black Cats’ own goal drought, which stretched back seven hours and 38 minutes since they were on target against Wigan at the Stadium of Light more than a month ago.

Goalscorer Chopra was one of four players left out by boss Keane for last weekend’s home game against Chelsea, but three were restored to the squad yesterday.

Chopra began the game on the bench but Daryl Murphy and Kieran Richardson were both drafted back into the starting line-up.

Murphy replaced Kenwyne Jones, who was absent after reporting for training on Friday suffering from a virus, up front alongside Roy O’Donovan.

And Richardson came into the side at the expense of central midfielder Grant Leadbitter, although Richardson played wide on the left flank which allowed Andy Reid to tuck inside.

Villa’s only change from the side that lost at Portsmouth last weekend saw the Sweden international defender Olof Mellberg miss out through suspension, with Craig Gardner coming in at left-back in his place.

The result will give Sunderland a huge boost in their fight for survival and there was no one at Villa Park who could argue they were not good value for their victory.

Villa are battling for a UEFA Cup place but even the knowledge that their chief rivals for European football Portsmouth had lost at Spurs in a game that kicked-off at lunchtime failed to inspire them.

Martin O’Neill’s side had plenty of possession but, for all John Carew’s physical presence up front, they only forced Craig Gordon into a couple of saves all game.

Sunderland’s man of the match Nyron Nosworthy will have the bumps and bruises to prove that he was in a battle against Carew – but what counts is that he never allowed Villa’s powerful front man to get the better of him.

Carew’s only efforts on goal came early in the game when he hooked the ball over his head and just past the post inside the first 10 minutes and later when he tried a shot on the turn from inside the box which Gordon saved comfortably.

Sunderland had by far the better and more numerous chances.

O’Donovan should have done better when Richardson cut the ball back to him from the byline on the left but the Irish frontman skied over from only eight yards out.

Midway through the first half, there was the now almost obligatory refereeing howler that went against the Black Cats.

Howard Webb failed to take any action when Villa’s shaky England keeper Scott Carson handled the ball a full yard outside his penalty area, leaving Sunderland fuming.

But still they carved out more chances, O’Donovan missing a glorious headed opportunity a couple of minutes later when he directed the ball well over the bar at the near post after getting on the end of a cross from Murphy.

Sunderland had a lucky escape just before the hour when a slip by Nosworthy let in Marlon Harewood just a minute after he had come on as a substitute, but fortunately the striker nudged it wide of Gordon and just wide of the post.

But Sunderland made the most of the best opportunity that came their way. Villa centre-backs Martin Laursen and Zat Knight drifted too far apart and Richardson’s long ball between the pair of them was chased by Chopra.

Carson hesitated and that left the ex-Newcastle hitman with a simple sidefoot finish.

Villa had a chance to hit virtually straight back when Agbonlahor, who was named in the England squad for next week’s friendly against France, fired in a low shot but Gordon spread himself and made the block to preserve his clean sheet.