Aston Villa have battled to a 0-0 Premier League draw against Sunderland this afternoon, despite playing the majority of the second half with 10 men.
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The Black Cats made a lively start and won a couple of corners during an encouraging opening period.
It was Villa who had the game's first real chance, however, as the ball was played to Christian Benteke on the edge of the box. The striker worked the space well, but his effort went over the bar.
Andreas Weimann then found space in the middle and turned past one man before Sunderland's John O'Shea got in to make a vital tackle and eventually clear.
The game suffered because of a stoppage in play while Liam Bridcutt was down injured, and neither side really looked threatening as the half wore on.
Villa ended the half the stronger of the two sides, but they struggled to create a clear goalscoring chance.
They finally fashioned themselves a good opening at the start of the second, as Weimann looked to drill a low strike into the bottom corner from just inside the box. His shot was scuffed, however, and the ball went wide of the far post.
It was a promising start to the half for Villa, but their good work was undone when Fabian Delph was dismissed for a high challenge on Jordi Gomez.
Sunderland really should have capitalised on their man advantage as Adam Johnson slipped a through ball to Connor Wickham, but Ron Vlaar got back to make a fine tackle which deflected the striker's shot wide for a corner.
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Minutes later, Wickham had another chance as he saw a back-heel blocked, before drilling the rebound just wide of the post.
At the other end, Vlaar arrived to meet a corner at the front post, but his header was pushed behind by Costel Pantilimon.
Sunderland came within inches of winning the match as Gomez picked the ball up just outside the box before firing in a powerful effort that came crashing back off the post as Villa held on to secure a valuable point.
Benjamin Topliss
