Aston Villa came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Villa Park on Saturday, taking Martin O'Neill's men to third in the standings.

The Black Cats wasted no time in opening the scoring as Steed Malbranque fed a perfect through-ball into the path of Djibril Cisse, and the Frenchman did not even need to break stride before slotting the ball low past Brad Friedel to beat the goalkeeper at his near-post.

But just eight minutes later and Villa were level as Liam Miller up-ended Ashley Young just outside the area and, after picking himself up, the England international brilliantly curled his free-kick up and over the wall to leave Craig Gordon with absolutely no chance.

Villa continued to pile the pressure on Roy Keane's men and took the lead just after the half-hour mark as Stiliyan Petrov turned the ball back across goal and John Carew found himself in the right place to flick the ball home from just a few yards out.

And the Villains were able to hold on to the advantage and climb above Arsenal to third, although the Gunners are still to play Hull in the late kick-off.

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew

Subs: Guzan, Milner, Harewood, Knight, Salifou, Gardner, Cuellar

SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson, Miller, Cisse, Diouf

Subs: Fulop, Murphy, Chopra, Reid, Healy, Henderson, Stokes

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)