And the hits just keep on coming.

Honestly, outside the first 20 minutes or so, I don’t think we were too bad (although I was expecting a little more vibrancy), a bit nervy here and there, but far from being second best. Houllier named an unchanged side, they created chances, they had control of the game for the most part, but made life difficult for themselves with frustrating mistakes.

Emile Heskey was superb in the outfield, bringing exactly what we’ve missed so much for a lot of the season in his link up play, but then somehow conspired to miss an empty net from three yards. He actually hit the cross bar. I don’t know how, but that actually happened. It may have been under his feet somewhat, but any professional footballer should score those with their eyes closed.

And then, in the second half, with Asamoah Gyan slumped on the floor, Villa under no obligation to stop the game on his behalf, we ended up watching the confusion end in a handbags session. Jordan Henderson, all of 20 years old, was furious and confronted Heskey who reacted in the most stupid way possible, he appeared to shove the youngster in the face.

The referee didn’t see it, but the linesman did, and he was dispatched for an early shower. Letter of the law stuff really. Just idiotic from everyone concerned, possibly a sign of the pressure they’re under, perhaps it’s just basic stupidity. Either way, Heskey’s a professional with a long career, Henderson’s over the top reaction may have been all kinds of wrong, but Emile knows better.

The home side clearly rocked, it didn’t take too much pressure from Sunderland until Phil Bardley’s found the ball at his feet and hit a speculative drive from 30 odd yards. Of course, the ball made its way through a crowded box and nestled in the bottom corner. Of course it did.

Boudewijn Zenden was sent off with four minutes left on the clock for a second bookable offence, Houllier made his first substitution two minutes later when Petrov and Reo-Coker were replaced by Albrighton and Bannan. The ball constantly pumped forward by a quarter back Ashley Young on the half way line, Brad Friedel even going up for a late corner.

No late salvation was found though and with many other games going against us tonight; Wolves victory over Chelsea taking the shine off our 3-3 draw somewhat, we’re now in the relegation zone for the first time since a six day dip back in November 2003.

And there we are. The “must win” game wasn’t won, it wasn’t even drawn. So now what?

Well, if there was panic before, there’s outright pandemonium among large sections of the fan base now. Houllier seemed to ask his escort what the crowd were singing as he headed up the touch line to the tunnel.

“Um, they say you’re getting sacked in the morning, Mr Houllier“.

The manager looked shell shocked, I’ve a good idea how he feels.

If he is despatched in the next 24 hours, given some of the other games tonight, he might not be alone. I’m not sure he will be; the support shown by Randy and Paul seemed pretty unequivocal to me, and I still don’t really believe he should be, but anything seems possible right now.

On a side note: can we get together some kind of campaign to raise awareness of what players should do when a player lies prone? It’s really simple, you play to the referee’s whistle, it’s his responsibility to decide when the game should be stopped.