It was so nearly a vital three points for Alex McLeish away from home thanks to goals from Stiliyan Petrov and what should have been a late winner from Richard Dunne to cancel out Conor Wickham’s first half leveller.

Unfortunately, the familiar sight of a late goal coming from a set piece returned when 5’7″ Stéphane Sessègnon helped himself to a free header with one minute of normal time left on the clock.

How typical.

Stiliyan Petrov opened the scoring with another screamer from distance in the 20th minute, capping a great break that started on the left, but switched to the right thanks to a superb cross field pass from Gabby Agbonlahor.

Alan Hutton got the assist with his neat ball inside to Petrov, but later ruined what was his best performance in claret and blue by losing Sessegnon on the turn. The former PSG man fed Wickham in acres of space to slot home for his first Premiership goal to make it 1-1.

But James Collins and Dunne combined to nod in a free kick with five minutes remaining; Collins getting to the ball first, Dunne getting the final touch before hitting the back of the net.

Ex-Blue Seb Larsson gave away that free kick after a silly incident with Gabby, but made up with it with his delivery for the late equaliser. It would be a crushing blow if it weren’t for the tragic inevitability of it.

There were some good performances. Chris Herd impressed again, showing what an intelligent player he is with his positional sense. Charles N’Zogbia was the most lively I think we’ve seen him. Hutton looked much improved until the fatal mistake; he’s very easily turned.

Petrov was excellent in the middle, his goal was quite superb. Emile Heskey looked better when switched to the middle with Gabby moved out wide, but it’s difficult to understand why he’s playing something so close to a midfield role with better suited players left on the bench.

Darren Bent had a sitter well saved by substitute keeper Westwood, on in place of Mignolet whose bloody nose came off second best in a clash with Emile Heskey. Bent also had a slightly controversial foul called against him which would have seen him clean through on goal without Chris Foy’s whistle.

I don’t know what happened, but Kevin MacDonald ended up being sent to the stand as a result. I presume he was enraged by Foy allowing so much to go during the first half (including an obstruction on N’Zogbia in the build up to Wickham’s goal), but pulling Bent back on this occasion thanks to the waving of the linesman’s flag.

Why does that feel so familiar?

Something else that’s familiar; another game, another draw. Not an unfair result on balance, better than the last two results, but one that still stings since the points were there for the taking.

Sunderland: Mignolet (Westwood 53′), Brown, Turner, O’Shea (Bardsley 36′), Richardson, Colback, Vaughan (Meyler 82′), Larsson, Sessegnon, Wickham, Bendtner. Unused subs: Cattermole, Gardner, Dong-won, Elmohamady.

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Herd, Petrov, Heskey, N’Zogbia (Albrighton 88′), Agbonlahor, Bent. Unused subs: Guzan, Clark, Cuellar, Delph, Ireland, Delfouneso.