ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP/Aston Villa 1 Sunderland 1: ASTON VILLA remain unbeaten in the Premier League this year but scratch beneath the surface and that record is not quite as impressive as it looks.

Villa have now drawn seven of those 10 fixtures, with their latest failure to collect three points at home representing a major setback to their hopes of finishing in the top four.

The frustration at Villa Park was tangible at the final whistle and Manchester City’s defeat merely added to the feeling that this was yet another opportunity missed

When John Carew collected his eighth goal in seven matches to bring Villa level after Fraizer Campbell had broken away to give Sunderland an early lead, the stage was set for Martin O’Neill’s side to grab the victory that would have propelled them into fifth place. Sunderland, however, proved to be obdurate opponents and although Villa subjected the visitors to late pressure, when Nathan Delfouneso headed wide as O’Neill held his head in his hands, there was no dramatic finale to cheer the home fans.

Villa had started with the urgency of a team who knew there was no margin for error after Saturday’s disappointing draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It was easy to criticise Villa’s back line and question how a hole big enough to drive a bus through had opened up in the centre of the home defence but Sunderland also merited praise for the build-up and movement that prefaced Campbell’s strike.

Darren Bent dropped short to receive possession, laying the ball off for Kieran Richardson whose incisive pass picked out Campbell’s intelligent run. The rest was made to look ridiculously easy as the England Under-21 international lifted the ball over Brad Friedel with the minimum of fuss.

For the second time in the space of five days Villa were behind on their own turf, although on this occasion they did not have to wait until the final 10 minutes to achieve parity. Ashley Young, whose excellent delivery from wide areas again was Villa’s main threat, was the creator, the winger swinging in a curling centre from the right that implored the unmarked Carew to volley in at the far post and continue his prolific form in front of goal.

Sunderland threatened only sporadically but the pace and movement of Bent and Campbell caused Villa plenty of problems. Bent had an effort ruled out for offside in the eighth minute, which was a close call, and Campbell, who was deployed on the right flank but often drifted inside, wasted a decent chance to put Sunderland back in front on the stroke of half-time, when he eluded Richard Dunne on the edge of the area only to snatch at a left-footed shot that was dragged beyond Friedel’s far upright.

Carew, who had been partnered by Nathan Delfouneso for much of the evening following an early injury to Emile Heskey, came close again in the 74th minute but his header from Downing’s corner flashed wide.

Milner departed shortly afterwards, limping after a clumsy challenge from Lee Cattermole, although not before centre half Richard Dunne had gifted Bent a chance to restore Sunderland’s advantage.

Fortunately for the Republic of Ireland international, Carlos Cuellar deflected Bent’s stabbed shot just wide.

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ashley Young, Milner (Sidwell 77), Petrov, Downing, Carew, Heskey (Delfouneso 14). Subs Not Used: Guzan, Luke Young, Albrighton, Salifou, Beye. Goals: Carew 30.

SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Mensah (Da Silva 71), Ferdinand, Campbell, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Malbranque (Cana 82), Bent. Subs Not Used: Carson, Bardsley, Zenden, Kilgallon, Mwaruwari. Goals: Campbell 22.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).