Sunderland have managed to produce the one goal required to defeat Aston Villa at Villa Park tonight.
A drama-filled second half saw Villa striker Emile Heskey and Black Cats midfielder Bolo Zenden sent off but Phillip Bardsley was one who kept his cool, slotting the only goal of the match in the 80th minute to help bridge the gap with fifth-placed Chelsea to just two points.
Aston Villa: 0 Sunderland: 1 (Phillip Bardsley 80')
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham Crowd: 32,627 Referee: Kevin Friend Yellow cards:AV - Ciaran Clark 29', James Collins 45+2', Richard Dunne 79' SUN - Kieran Richardson 6', Titus Bramble 42', Boudewijn Zenden 60'/86' Red card:AV - Emile Heskey 68' SUN - Boudewijn Zenden 86'
Villa were on top early with a missed header from Gabriel Agbonlahor in the eighth minute after a blocked attempt from Stewart Downing but Sunderland got themselves into the match soon after, winning a string of corners ahead of Kieran Richardson's near miss in the 22nd minute.
Neither keeper was required to make a save in the opening 40 minutes although there were some chances, all of which were off target.
Sunderland were slightly on top early in the second half but it was Villa's Ashley Young who was closest to breaking the deadlock when his 58th minute shot was kept out by Craig Gordon. Immediately down the other end, Danny Welbeck's attempt for the Black Cats was held by Brad Friedel.
It was end to end stuff there for a while until Villa were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute when Emile Heskey was given his marching orders for getting involved in a fracas.
The Black Cats picked up their game with the player advantage and it proved decisive as Phillip Bardsley came up with what was to be the winner ten minutes from time. GOALSunderland's set piece from outside the area was played off to Bardsley who took it upon himself to shoot and it worked as the ball found its way into the bottom left corner.
Six minutes later, Zenden received his second yellow, reducing the visitors to ten men as well but it wasn't enough for Villa to grab a leveler as Sunderland recorded a second win on the trot.
