Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 3: Lewis Grabban strikes against former club as Steve Bruce’s side continue pursuit for top-two finish
John Terry and Co moved to within seven points of Championship league leaders Wolves with a sublime victory at the Stadium of Light
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ASTON VILLA continued their push for promotion with an emphatic 3-0 win against bottom-placed Sunderland.
Lewis Grabban and James Chester found the net, before Bryan Oviedo put the ball into his own net.
Grabban opened the scoring against his former club with a clever headed effort following a cross from Albert Adomah.
The English star enjoyed a loan spell with the Black Cats earlier this season, where he scored 12 goals in 20 games.
Aiden McGeady had a chance to equalise, but his strike from outside of the box flew over the bar.
And Chester doubled the tally in the dying stages of stoppage time of the first half to pile the pressure on the home side.
James Chester came close to pulling one back for the Villans in the second half, but his effort from the six yard box was heroically blocked.
Lamine Kone delivered a ball into Callum McManaman in the 62nd minute, but his strike was parried to safety by Sam Johnstone.
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Oviedo put the ball into his net to cap off a disastrous evening for the Black Cats.
The mid-week win has left Bruce's side within touching distance of league leaders Wolves.
And they are now just four points behind second-placed Cardiff City.
Chris Coleman's Sunderland side remain at the bottom of the pile, with just 28 points from their opening 36 games.
