Sunderland floored late at Villa as Habib Diarra miss proves costly | OneFootball

Sunderland were edged 4-3 by Aston Villa after late drama at Villa Park, Habib Diarra denied at 3-3 before the hosts struck again.

According to Sunderland Echo, Chelsea have renewed their interest in Noah Sadiki after talks with his camp last week, with the midfielder said to remain on their shortlist.

Régis Le Bris named an unchanged XI after beating Spurs. Luke O’Nien kept his place at centre-back despite Dan Ballard returning from a hamstring issue, while Chris Rigg again started on the right and Chemsdine Talbi was on the bench.

Ollie Watkins put Villa ahead inside two minutes, before Rigg levelled eight minutes later with a fine left-foot strike, his first Premier League goal at 18 on his 88th senior appearance. Amadou Onana then hit the bar in a breathless opening. Rigg has now made 10 Premier League starts while aged 18 or under, matching Michael Bridges in 1996-97.

Watkins restored Villa’s lead nine minutes before the interval after a slick move, leaving Sunderland to regroup at half-time.

Soon after the restart John McGinn dispossessed Reinildo and Watkins teed up Morgan Rogers for 3-1. Le Bris responded just past the hour, with Ballard replacing the injured Omar Alderete, Talbi on for Rigg and Trai Hume for Reinildo. Wilson Isidor later replaced Brian Brobbey with seven minutes remaining.

Hume and Isidor struck late to haul Sunderland level at 3-3 deep into stoppage time. Diarra then tried to chip Emiliano Martínez but was denied, and Villa broke to clinch a 4-3 victory. Sunderland sit 11th on 46 points, two behind Brighton and three off the group in seventh on 48, with five games to play.

Source: Sunderland Echo