Sunderland have breathed life into their relegation battle with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Jermaine Defoe scored two second-half goals as Sam Allardyce's men arrested a five-game losing streak at the Stadium of Light.
The opening goal of the contest occurred on the half-hour mark when Patrick van Aanholt tried his luck from range to see the ball deflect pass Brad Guzan off the foot of Micah Richards.
Villa managed to draw level in the 63rd minute through Carles Gil who produced a spectacular volley from Adama Traore's cross following a strong run from the Spanish winger.
However, Sunderland again edged in front through Defoe who found just an inch of space in the area to rifle inside Guzan's near post on the 72nd minute before wrapping it up in injury-time when clinically firing home Ola Toivonen's pass.
The win keeps the Black Cats second bottom but sees them move seven points clear of Remi Garde's Villa who have not win since opening day.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Sunderland: 3 (Patrick van Aanholt 30', Jermain Defoe 72'/90+2')
Aston Villa: 1 (Carles Gil 62')
Stadium of Light, Sunderland - 41,535
TALKING POINTS
- Can this be the victory that sparks Sunderland's season? Should Allardyce out more faith in Defoe?
- From bad to worse for Villa. Is their fate already sealed? It would seemingly take a miracle to avoid the drop from here.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Sunderland head to Arsenal for the 3rd round of the FA Cup on Saturday prior to their league trip to Swansea City next Wednesday.
Villa will be hoping to find some semblance of form when they take on Wycombe Wanderers in the cup ahead of a vital home clash with Crystal Palace next week.
TWITTER INSIGHT
.@IAmJermainDefoe delighted with match-winning double: https://t.co/ufwjf4sW76pic.twitter.com/sMpSlMIqD0
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 3, 2016Great win today.positive way to start the new year.thanks for the support from the fans.well done to the team&my mate @IAmJermainDefoe#safc
— Vito Mannone (@VitoMannone88) January 2, 2016Rémi Garde post-match: We didn't play so badly. We created opportunities but we need to more efficient. #AVFCpic.twitter.com/jxkVcAzfPW
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) January 2, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Sunderland's Allardyce says this win has only given his side some relief:
"Dire, still, don't worry about that. We are a long way off getting safe and we are still very much a relegation-threatened side.
“This has given us a little bit of relief, but we must be resilient in terms of picking up points from here on in."
Villa boss Garde on his side's survival hopes:
“We still have light in front of us. We must still believe."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
15 - Aston Villa have conceded the first goal on 15 occasions in the Premier League this season; more often than any other side. Breached.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2016500 - Aston Villa's Carles Gil has just scored the 500th Premier League goal of 2015-16. Landmark.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 20167 - Jermain Defoe has scored seven Premier League goals against Aston Villa, only against Wigan (10) has he scored more. Crucial.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2016