Sunderland 1, Aston Villa 1

Dec 16 2007 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

ROY KEANE could be hit in the pocket by the FA for his criticism of blundering referee Steve Bennett.

But he’ll consider it a price worth paying for the chance to speak his mind after Bennett cost Sunderland two points against Aston Villa.

The controversial official ruled out Danny Collins’ injury-time winner for reasons that escaped Keane, his players and the 43,000 fans at the Stadium of Light.

With the game poised at 1-1, Collins’ last-gasp header at a late corner was virtually the last action of the match and would have given Sunderland a priceless home win over away-day specialists Villa.

But Bennett had other ideas and it is no wonder that he is Public Enemy No 1 on Wearside this weekend.

Keane suggested darkly that Bennett ‘couldn’t wait’ to blow the whistle and disallow the goal.

That is debatable, but there is no doubt that the referee had a shocker.

His decisions baffled and infuriated all afternoon, and at one stage he was getting stick off both sets of fans at the same time!

Not for the first time in his career, Bennett gave a fifth-rate performance in a top-level game and Keane’s chat with the referee’s assessor this week should be interesting.

Keane was furious yesterday and no wonder.

The disallowed goal deprived Sunderland of an extra two points – points that could be crucial in the final analysis to a side embroiled in a relegation battle.

The draw was enough to see Sunderland climb out of the bottom three, and Fulham’s defeat against Newcastle last night meant the Black Cats stayed out of the relegation zone.

Bennett was the centre of attention when the fans should have gone home content after seeing their side frustrate a Villa side that is gunning for European qualification.

Keane was unhappy with his side’s display at Chelsea last weekend and responded by making three changes to the starting line-up, only one of which was forced.

Midfielder Liam Miller started a three-game suspension after being sent off in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge, but Keane relegated Grant Leadbitter to the bench against the Villans and axed Greg Halford entirely.

Midfielder Dwight Yorke came into the side, allowing skipper Dean Whitehead to move from the centre of the park to right-back to replace Halford.

Ross Wallace switched to the right wing to replace Miller, with Daryl Murphy coming in on the left flank.

And Stokes came in at the expense of Leadbitter as an extra attacker as Keane reverted to 4-4-2 after playing 4-5-1 at the Bridge.

Villa started with the same side that lost 3-1 at home to Portsmouth last Saturday.

The new-look Sunderland side got off to a great start when Danny Higginbotham headed them in front with just 10 minutes gone.

The defender climbed highest inside the penalty area to glance Ross Wallace’s right-wing corner past England keeper Scott Carson and into the left side of the net.

Villa enjoyed the majority of the possession and pacy winger Ashley Young was a constant menace down the right flank.

But the visitors lacked penetration and the best they could manage in the first half was a wild long-range shot from Wilfred Bouma that flew well wide and a set-piece header from Martin Laursen that also missed the target.

Sunderland had the ball in the net a second time just before half-time when Stokes headed home a loose ball after Kenwyne Jones’ shot had been spilled by Carson at the feet of Wallace, whose shot was blocked and looped into the air, but the Republic of Ireland international was flagged offside.

And then in first-half injury time, Jones turned inside the box and flashed a right-foot shot across the face of goal.

Sunderland had a lucky escape at the start of the second half when keeper Darren Ward, who continues to keep £9m man Craig Gordon out of the side, came for a deep cross but only succeeded in dropping the ball at the feet of John Carew.

Carew controlled and hit a low shot but there was Higginbotham on the line to save the day.

Villa got back on level terms in the 73rd minute after Sunderland put themselves under pressure.

Substitute Leadbitter gave the ball away sloppily halfway inside his own half and as Sunderland battled to get the ball back, Paul McShane conceded a free kick just outside the box, inside the D.

Villa sub Shaun Maloney stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the left side of the net, leaving Ward rooted to the spot.

After conceding the equaliser, Sunderland rallied and finished strongly, with Leadbitter sending a header straight at Carson when he should have done better in the final few minutes.

Sunderland poured forward in search of a winner, and they thought their prayers had been answered in the 93rd minute, when they won a corner on the left and Carson could only punch the ball off the side of Collins’ head and it rebounded into the net.

But Bennett ensured the celebrations fell flat.

And Keane had every right to be upset.