Aston Villa finally scored their first Premier League goal of the season but, on this quietly concerning evidence, the quest for last season’s mislaid form is far from over.
In marked contrast Sunderland were a study in resilience and belief after not merely the 33rd minute dismissal of their left-back Reinildo Mandava for violent conduct but the rare second half mistake from Robin Roefs that allowed Matty Cash to shoot Unai Emery’s side ahead from 25 yards.
Undeterred, Régis Le Bris’s 10 men simply regrouped before Wilson Isidor’s third goal in three Premier League home games stripped the shine from Emery’s weekend.
An injury to Habib Diarra opened the door for Chris Rigg to make his Premier League debut and the 18-year-old, later sacrificed as Sunderland switched to a back five in the wake of Reinildo’s dismissal, did not disappoint during his brief cameo in Le Bris’s midfield. Indeed it was Rigg’s clever approach play that enabled Chemsdine Talbi to swing in a cross, headed over by Isidor.
The same striker had earlier missed in similar fashion after meeting Granit Xhaka’s deep cross and would subsequently be denied by Ezri Konsa’s smart positioning as the impressive England defender blocked his shot.
