Sunderland will certainly be happier with the 2-2 draw than Villa, as the home side bossed much of the game and should have wrapped up three points with better finishing despite going down to an early goal.
Villa missing both of their 19-year-old creative sparks in Jack Grealish and Adama Traore often lacked the final product in a game they should have polished off before Sunderland grabbed their equaliser.
Here’s five reasons to still be cheerful as Aston Villa fans…
1. Better than Chelsea
After four games Aston Villa are above last year’s League Champion’s Chelsea. Considering Villa have only won once in four games so far this season, how they are above Jose Mourinho’s team, I have no idea.
Never mind being eight points behind Manchester City already, if you’re behind Villa after four games, your title chances are next to zero!
2. Shots
21 shots in the whole game with six on target, that’s actually more than the previous three league games put together. Is it progress? It’s hard to tell due to the rank average opponents, but Idrissa Gueye does seem to be providing an increasing fluidity to the midfield which helps them going forward. Also, the full-backs are offering improved forward support this season so far, especially Amavi on the left.
Despite injuries to key forward players today, better end products from Bacuna, Westwood and Amavi would have probably seen Villa win three points today.
3. International Break
With this current illness at the club and also Jack Grealish and Adama Traore carrying knocks, now is a good time to have a little break for Villa. Also, it will give the new faces that aren’t away on international duty extra time to bed down before the upcoming Midland derby conflicts in September.
4. Triple Battle Royale
Speaking of which, first comes a tough trip to Leicester City on September 13, who remain unbeaten this season. Then a week later it’s the Baggies at Villa Park, followed by the visit of the Blues three days later in the League Cup.
What a time to be alive! Well, it’ll be a decent September of Midlands footy.
Three wins out of three would really set Villa up for the season. Being unbeaten is the bare minimum that would be acceptable. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how the new players face up to the local rivalry and to see if they have the bottle for it.
5. Almost a Triple Triple
The biggest shame of today’s game was Scott Sinclair not wrapping up a hat-trick that would have been his third of August (also Notts Forest and Notts County).
Still, Sinclair’s brace today again suggests he will become a useful player for Villa. At the moment he certainly looks like the only Villa player that looks good for double figures this season. So far, he’s played four and scored five in all competitions this season.
Even more good news is Sinclair has already got a head start on the amount of goals a certain former Villa No.20 has scored for his new club this season. Who am I talking about? You know, the guy who plays the team that got beat 3-0 today by West Ham at HOME!
Enjoy the international break. UTV
Follow MOMS – @oldmansaid
