Still in their first year back in the top-flight following last season’s play-off success, the Black Cats travelled to Villa Park and successfully traded blows with a Villa side that have qualified for the semi-finals of the Europa League and now look extremely likely to secure a return to the Champions League for next season.
Trailing 3-1 with three minutes remaining, it would have been easy for Regis Le Bris’ side to throw in the towel, but goals from Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor levelled the scores before Habib Diarra failed to convert an excellent chance to fire Sunderland into the lead.
Moments after Diarra’s tame effort was saved by Emi Martinez, Tammy Abraham claimed a 93rd-minute winner for Villa, but while there was understandable disappointment in the Sunderland dressing room after the final whistle, there was also a great deal of pride at the spirit and never-say-die attitude that had carried the Black Cats so close to what would have been a truly-remarkable victory.
“We never need to back down from a challenge,” said Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadki. “This was a big challenge for us, and it’s important to show that we can play against these types of teams. It’s a game where you can win.
“We are still a young team and for most of us, it’s the first season in the Premier League. It’s obvious that we are going to have some setbacks, but we need to continue working and don’t be disappointed because of a loss.
“We need to focus on the work for the next week. It’s fun to get tested every week. Sometimes, you have a bad game, but you always have the next week to bounce back and that’s what I enjoy about this competition.”
READ MORE:
What was said in the Sunderland dressing room after dramatic Villa Park defeat
The transfer move Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has ruled out as Sunderland plan for the summer
What happens next with Lutsharel Geertruida as Regis Le Bris outlines contract approach
Sunderland’s tenacity and commitment have been key features of their success this season, and both qualities were on display as they rallied so effectively at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side spurned chances to increase their two-goal lead before Sunderland mounted their fightback, and Sadiki admits the home side could have been out of sight before the game began to turn.
The extent to which the Black Cats turned the game on its head was still remarkable though, with skipper Granit Xhaka having led the fightback with some inspired speech-making.
“At 3-1, Granit had a talk in the middle of the pitch,” revealed Sadiki. “He told me, if we score once, there is hope to win the game. We scored once, then all of a sudden you are equal to them. It’s 3-3, and then you have a last chance. You don’t score it, then they punish you again.
“We were this close to getting a blowout, but we were also this close as well to winning the game. That’s the mixed feeling we have after the game, I think.
“It could have been 5-1 as well, but in the end we came so close. I think we showed mentality, we showed that we can do it, it’s small margins.
“They punished our mistakes and that’s why they’re a big team, that’s why they’re in the top four right now. They have the players for it. We have as well, but we need to work on it. That’s the whole point for us.”
After the game, Le Bris revealed that Diarra apologised to his team-mates for the miss that might have given Sunderland the lead.
The midfielder raced clean through but tried to chip Martinez rather than placing a shot to either side of the Villa goalkeeper. Martinez saved, and within less than a minute, Abraham was prodding home Villa’s winner, but Sadiki did not feel Diarra needed to apologise for what was an instinctive decision.
“He [Diarra] knows it’s a mistake,” said Sadiki. “He’s old enough to know that, but I think we can’t throw his game away. He played a fantastic game and gave it his all. Everybody’s going to think about the mistake and he’s going to keep it, but you can’t throw his game away.”