Aston Villa defeated Sunderland 4-3 in a dramatic match on Sunday.
Tammy Abraham scored the winning goal just three minutes into injury time.
Ollie Watkins shone brightly, netting two goals in the first half. This brings his tally to an impressive 102 goals for Aston Villa.
Chris Rigg put Sunderland on the scoreboard, marking their first Premier League goal since May 2017. With this, Sunderland becomes the 20th team to have an English goalscorer this season.
Aston Villa’s victory strengthens their push for Champions League qualification. They now hold a 10-point lead over Chelsea, sitting comfortably in sixth place with five games remaining.
Sunderland, meanwhile, is one point away from ensuring their safety in the Premier League. They have remained safe from relegation since winning the Tyne-Wear derby before the international break.
The match unfolded in a relaxed atmosphere, as both teams had already achieved their season’s ambitions prior to kick-off. Unai Emery expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating, “I am so, so happy.” Yet he also noted a need for improvement: “We need strikers and goalkeepers.”
Régis Le Bris voiced disappointment despite the spirited performance from his team: “I’m disappointed because we had the opportunity to win the game.” Both managers acknowledged moments of quality and resilience displayed by their players throughout this high-scoring encounter.