Aston Villa face 'almighty tussle' against Sunderland, says Martin O'Neill

Jan 16 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

are a very fine club and it will be an almighty tussle for us.”

Villa were thankful to a late Shaun Maloney free-kick in rescuing a point at the ground in December 2007.

Michael Chopra’s only goal won the return three months later at Villa Park before Ashley Young and John Carew combined to give Villa a narrow win after Djibril Cisse’s early opener in September.

Sunderland have taken 11 points from six matches since a narrow defeat at Manchester United after Roy Keane’s resignation which followed a 4-1 home thrashing to Bolton.

“There has been a bit of a resurgence,” continued O’Neill.

“The confidence has been regained from the matches they’ve been playing at home, probably since Bolton.

“I think Sunderland on their own pitch have the ability to play.

“They are getting some confidence from winning football matches which is obviously the most important ingredient.

“Sunderland will present us with plenty of problems. It’s a Premier League game.”