Aston Villa remain without a Premier League victory this season after Sunderland battled to a 1-1 draw despite playing almost an hour with ten men.
The hosts were reduced to ten in the 33rd minute when Reinildo received a straight red card for lashing out at Matty Cash following a clash between the pair.
Even with the setback, Sunderland dug deep and went close to taking the lead early in the second half, only for Omar Alderete’s header to cannon off the crossbar.
Villa eventually struck first when Cash rifled in from distance, his swerving effort beating Robin Roefs to finally give the visitors their first league goal of the campaign.
But their advantage did not last. Granit Xhaka nodded a cross into the path of Wilson Isidor, who converted from close range to level the game and continue his fine start to the season.
The draw leaves Sunderland unbeaten in three Premier League matches, collecting eight points from their opening five games – a strong return for a side newly promoted via the play-offs.
Manager Regis le Bris will take pride in his team’s resilience and determination, particularly after Reinildo’s dismissal.
For Villa, the frustration grows.
Without the injured Youri Tielemans, Unai Emery’s men squandered chances to take all three points, most notably when Ollie Watkins failed to connect with Jadon Sancho’s cross in stoppage time.
Villa remain stuck in the bottom three with just three points from five games and an early Carabao Cup exit already behind them.
Emery’s record at Villa before this season was impressive, but the current campaign has stuttered badly.
With home fixtures against Fulham and Burnley up next, the pressure is mounting for his side to finally deliver their first win.
