Well, another game, another draw at Villa Park.  1-1 this time and with City getting beaten at home 2-0 by Everton it’s a chance to go 5th that I think we’ll look back on at the end of the season and rue.

I can’t find too many faults in the performance, Craig Gordon had to make a couple of game saving saves in the first 10 minutes.  I mean, real top quality saves that reinforce why Sunderland paid so much money for him.

The visitors scored a goal they didn’t deserve on the balance of play at the time with an exquisite pass to Fraizer Campbell in full stride that left Richard Dunne and James Collins eating his dust and set up an easy chance to beat Brad Friedel.

John Carew levelled the score line with a well taken effort that wasn’t as easy as it looked, but was a fitting cap to Ashley Young’s inch perfect delivery from the right.

That’s how it finished.  Villa went close on numerous occasions, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Emile Heskey was forced off after just 15 minutes and MON bravely sent Nathan Delfouneso on which almost paid dividends on several occasion.   The youngster was quiet for the initial 10 minutes or so on the pitch, but once he had chance to absolutely skin Hutton down the left he gained his confidence and looked every inch the Premiership player for the rest of the game.

On the downside; Richard Dunne didn’t look close to fully fit and was caught flat footed a few times which could and probably should have been punished.  James Milner also had to go off with 13 minutes left, Steve Sidwell his replacement.

Ashley Young was great again, Downing appeared to have more energy, particularly defensively, frequently harassing Sunderland back into their own half in possession.  Cuellar appeared nervous when he had the ball, but was stout defensively.  I’m not convinced that Milner and Petrov won the central battle against Richardson and Cattermole, which may well be the reason we failed to take the spoils tonight.

Up front, Carew looked up for this and will compete with Ashley Young for the Man of the Match award I feel. There were some quite magnificent passages of play from Aston Villa tonight, make no mistake that if we had grabbed a late winner it wouldn’t have been more than we deserved. It just wasn’t to be on the night. Once again that seems to be the only thing one can find to say.

There were moments tonight when I felt that the home supporters recognised the part they could play in proceeding and responded appropriately.  I hope that continues for the remainder of the season.  Fourth is starting to look like it’s slipping from our fingers at the moment, but there’s a few more twists and turns in this season yet.

I’ll follow up with the usual Statshack at some point, but right now I am genuinely mentally exhausted from that game.  I can’t imagine how the players feel, but Martin O’Neill looked like I feel x 10 at the final whistle!!