Evening all! Two teams have gone down then, and that just leaves one place left to tumble down to the Championship.

Reading and QPR played out a goalless draw yesterday and that sent them both down. Both sides in action tonight could join them if they don't have a surging end to the season.

Kickoff in Birmingham is at 8pm and we've just got word of some team news...

VILLA XI: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett; Westwood, Delph, Sylla; Weimann, Agbonlahor; Benteke

One change from Paul Lambert then, with Yacouba Sylla taking the place of Charles N'Zogbia in midfield.

SUNDERLAND XI: Mignolet; Bardsley, O’Shea, Cuellar, Rose; N’Diaye, Larsson, Gardner; Sessegnon, Johnson; Graham

Paolo Di Canio, meanwhile, has made a pair of changes to his lineup. Phil Bardsley and Craig Gardner take the place of Jack Colback and James McClean.

REFEREE WATCH: Tonight's man in charge is Lee Probert.

Di Canio has just told Sky Sports News that there is "no secret" to his recent success since taking over at Sunderland. He insists that he simply inherited a squad with plenty of talent and that's that.

The Italian adds that all he is after once again tonight is a "good performance". He admits that it is "obvious" the Black Cats could lose tonight but that if they do win then they will be almost safe.

He's right in the sense that, mathematically, three points will not guarantee Sunderland's safety. However, victory would lift them a huge four places up to 11th.

That would leave Villa just two points above the drop zone, but Wigan below them will have a game in-hand after tonight's match so could send Villa down into the bottom three.

RUN-INS! Let's have a look at the final few matches for the sides at the bottom.

Wigan: West Brom A, Swansea H, Arsenal A, Villa H
Villa: Norwich A, Chelsea H, Wigan A
Sunderland: Stoke H, Southampton H, Tottenham A
Newcastle: West Ham A, QPR A, Arsenal H

You'd have to say that Sunderland have perhaps the easiest run-in. After tonight's match at Villa, they host Stoke and Southampton before a tough trip to Spurs on the final day of the season on May 19. The Black Cats' arch rivals Newcastle are far from safe after Saturday's 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool. Alan Pardew's side have to go to West Ham and QPR before hosting Arsenal, who are likely to be chasing three points for Champions League football, on the final day and you'd have to say that they have the toughest run-in.

If Villa win tonight then you'd have to say that Wigan's task of staying up is a mighty one. However, they've done it before and winning at home to Swansea (their game in-hand) is certainly not out of the question. A Sunderland win tonight will certainly rejuvenate Roberto Martinez's side's push for another miraculous recovery.

As you can see from this form guide, Villa are in a lofty seventh place having picked up seven points in 10 games. Sunderland may be down in 14th but they have won their last two in a row. Di Canio's first game in charge was a tough trip to Chelsea but since then he has overseen a memorable 3-0 victory at Newcastle and a narrow triumph over Everton.

Here's what Di Canio's opposite number Paul Lambert has told Sky Sports News ahead of the game: "The important thing is that we've got an opportunity to draw level with Sunderland and move clear of Wigan." He adds that if Villa win tonight it would "put them on a good road".

SUBS! Here are the two benches for tonight's game:

Villa: Given, Holman, Lichaj, Bent, Bowery, N’Zogbia, Bannan
Sunderland: Westwood, Kilgallon, Colback, Vaughan, Mangane, McClean, Mandron

In the reverse fixture at the start of November it was Villa who claimed all three points thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's 55th minute strike.

However, that victory was Villa's first in six attempts against the Black Cats.

PREDICTION TIME! Ten minutes until kickoff then and it's time for my prediction on the match. I can see it being a bit of a slugfest, with few chances at either end and can't see there being more than a couple of goals. Maybe one team will snatch it 1-0 and if I had to choose I'd go with Villa, Agbonlahor to get the goal and sink Sunderland once more.

Both sides are now in the tunnel, and both are in their traditional colours, with Villa in their claret and blue tops and white shorts while Sunderland don red-and-white stripe tops and black shorts.

Di Canio saunters down the tunnel and out to a hostile reception at Villa Park after he taunted the home fans while he was in charge at Swindon Town earlier this season. He's in a fairly reserved outfit by his standards tonight: dark suit and red tie. Not quite the purple Argyle jumper we had on his first match in charge at Chelsea.

A pre-match huddle from the home side. Can they secure a vital win to edge themselves ever closer to relegation? Star man Benteke whispers a prayer to himself as the rain pelts down in Birmingham.

KICKOFF! Eight o'clock on the dot as Villa get us underway.

Villa look far more dangerous in the first couple of minutes as Benteke's flick almost reaches Delph before Weimann has the ball nicked away from him by Rose just as he was about to shoot. From the resulting corner Mignolet fumbles the ball but Baker can't direct it to a fellow claret shirt and Sunderland just about clear.

N'Diaye beats Delph in the air and the ball sits up nicely for Graham but his snapshot is allowed to barely travel a yard as Vlaar bravely blocks.

Both manages are more than happy to get soaked, it seems. They're both being very animated on the sidelines as they try to direct the action.

Both manages are more than happy to get soaked, it seems. They're both being very animated on the sidelines as they try to direct the action.

CHANCE! Guzan is the goalkeeper who's conceded most in the league this year and he's almost gifted Sunderland a goal. Gardner takes a clipped ball around the American, who had misjudged it, but can't turn it goalwards as Baker deflects it out.

And now it's Larsson who ghosts into the Sunderland box but he can't quite bring the ball under control to take a shot and Villa clear.

It looks like my prediction for this match is bang on so far. Neither keeper has been worked while retention of possession for long periods of time has been a real struggle.

As always at this stage of a game when Villa are playing, the crowd begin to clap for their number 19 Stiliyan Petrov, who is suffering from leukaemia. Di Canio also joins in the applause and that's a nice touch from the Italian.

WHAT A MISS! Villa should be ahead! It's a brilliant one-two between Agbonlahor and Benteke, with the latter flicking it beautifully around the corner for the Englishman. He just has Mignolet to beat but pokes it agonisingly wide of the right-hand upright.

Sunderland win a free kick about 40 yards out. It's quite central but Larsson whips in a good ball that just eludes all the men in the middle.

Out of nowhere Villa lead and it's a wonderful goal from captain Vlaar. He sprints onto a loose ball before firing hard and low. Mignolet can't get down quick enough and the ball zips into the corner.

Blimey, that Villa lad didn't last long did it?! Sunderland reply instantly and it's a really well-worked goal from the visitors. Rose finds the perfectly-timed run of Graham and then goes for the return. Graham slips him in perfectly and the finish is precise into the far corner for his first goal in Sunderland colours.

YELLOW! First man in the book is former Villa man Cuellar.

It's all happening all of a sudden in Birmingham! Now Villa appeal for a free kick right on the edge of the box as Agbonlahor's shot is charged down by Gardner. The ball did appear to strike his arm and that could have easily been given.

Incredible stuff at Villa Park! Villa retake the lead and it's another fine goal. Lowton intercepts a raking Sunderland crossfield pass and drives into Sunderland half before picking out Weimann on the left who had lost his market. The Austrian's first touch is perfect and he strokes the ball into the far corner to restore claret-and-blue hope.

Sunderland almost make it the craziest of 10 minutes as N'Diaye lets fly from distance and Guzan has to get down low to his left to hold on to the ball.

Gardner slides in and puts the ball into the net but referee Probert had already blown his whistle for a foul on Guzan by Graham.

Sunderland have a free kick in a promising position out on the right touchline but Johnson's delivery is overhit and Graham can't keep it in. Three minutes have been added on, by the way.

It took time to get going but we have a real game on our hands now after those three goals in seven minutes.

If you've only just joined us, click here to read Barney Corkhill's half-time report on proceedings in Birmingham.

And if you refresh your page manually now you'll be able to see a great picture of Lambert doing his best Di Canio celebration impression!

The stats from the opening half really favour the home side. They've had 63% of possession and nine shots to Sunderland's four, also managing to get seven of those on target.

The bookies are certainly ruling out any chance of a Sunderland turnaround. They've got the Black Cats at quite a tasty 12/1 to win, while the draw is 11/4.

KICKOFF! No changes from either manager at the start of the second and we're back underway!

A reminder that just one player is on a booking at the moment. That's Sunderland's Cuellar.

Sunderland break upfield through N'Diaye who lays in Sessegnon. He jinxes inside the challenge of Lowton and shapes to shoot before hesitating once, then twice before playing in Graham who is tackled and the attack is ended.

Little bit of hangbags between N'Diaye and Lowton but referee Probert is there to break it up before anything happens. Villa have a free kick and Bennett's delivery is decent but easily taken by Mignolet.

It's a bit fortunate but Villa will take it! Agbonlahor feints past a pair of players before lining up a left-foot drive. His effort takes a slight deflection off a Sunderland shirt and that unbalances Mignolet who can only parry it out to Benteke and the Belgian stoops low to head into an empty net.

JUST WIDE! Almost another instant response from Sunderland as Johnson curls over a delicious cross that Vlaar strangely ducks out of the way of. It bounces just wide of the post and you could call that great judgement from the Dutchman but surely he had no idea what was behind him?

And another for the mighty Belgian! Westwood floats a corner high to the back post and Benteke is up brilliantly high and directs his header perfectly inside the far post. Superb leap and accuracy.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Di Canio tries to shake things up by throwing on James McClean in place of Larsson.

YELLOW! Another Sunderland player in the book and this time it's Rose. He slides in studs up on Weimann and Probert rightly shows him the yellow.

OFF THE LINE! It's penalty-box pinball inside the Sunderland area! Benteke flashes a volley across goal and then Weimann smashes an effort towards the near post that Mignolet can only parry out straight back to Weimann. His first-time effort looks destined to find the net but it's blocked on the line by Cuellar. Frantic stuff.

OFF! Stephane Sessegnon is sent off for Sunderland.

I'm not sure about that one. Sessegnon is definitely late and studs up on Sylla but I'm not sure there was that much malice there. Either way, he's off and Sunderland will have to do without him for three games. Big loss.

It's a hat-trick for the Belgian and a dream night for Villa! There's an element of fortune about his third as Agbonlahor tries to cut inside but sees it deflected straight into the path of Benteke who beats Mignolet at his near post from a tight angle. "We want six!" chant the Holte End.

YELLOW! Sunderland's frustration is starting to show and Bardsley is the next man to go into Probert's book.

VILLA SUB: A standing ovation for hat-trick hero Benteke as he is taken off for Darren Bent, now playing against his former club of course.

What a tumble back to Earth this has been for Di Canio in particular. People were commending his side's performance in the last two matches but they've been way short of their best tonight.

SHOT! Villa almost find their sixth as Weimann tries to curl it into the far corner but just puts it too close to Mignolet. Moments later and Di Canio makes his final two changes, with young French striker Mikael Mandron on for Graham and David Vaughan replacing Gardner.

Goodness me, what a rout! Vaughan has only been on the field a matter of minutes but he's just made an awful error, overhitting a pass back to O'Shea that Agbonlahor runs onto before rounding Mignolet and rolling home from a few yards.

"Paolo, what's the score? Paolo, Paolo what's the score?" is now the chant from the home faithful. Four minutes added on.

And now the Villa fans are calling on their players to "SHOOOOT!" every time they have the ball. They surely can't believe their eyes.

Sunderland almost ended the game on a slight high as Guzan kept out a header from a corner but it doesn't go in and soon after the full-time whistle is blown. What an incredible second half in particular from the home side. Four goals and huge, morale-boosting win.

If you've only just joined us and want a shorter report on the match then Barney's summary is here.

That result moves Villa above Newcastle on goal difference, just. Click here for the latest Premier League table.

Anyway, thanks for joining SM for coverage of this crazy game in Birmingham. Be sure to stick around on site for plenty of analysis and reaction. We'll see you for more live football coverage tomorrow with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund doing battle in the Champions League. See you then.