With a fifth Premiership win on the trot Sunderland leapfrogged Arsenal into third place last night. Heady days indeed and it was from a Kevin Phillips header seven minutes from time that the points were secured, Phillips having earlier equalised Dion Dublin’s 46th-minute opener from the spot. That was a fortuitous award courtesy of the referee David Elleray, but not many in Sunderland will care this morning.

Optimism is such that a crowd of between 30,000-40,000 is expected for tonight’s game here with Newcastle, and that is just the reserves who are top of their league.

The Sunderland first team have not been doing too badly either and started like a side confident of victory. So their pressure brought a flurry of early corners but nothing to trouble David James, back after a four-game absence.

In fact once Villa rebuffed the early storm, they looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Darius Vassell, in for the injured Julian Joachim, displayed the speed of Maurice Greene. But sadly for Villa fans, the touch of Greene too.

In the 24th minute it took a wild challenge from Chris Makin to halt Vassell on the edge of the Sunderland area - it looked a penalty - and with Alan Thompson influential in midfield, it was the visitors in the ascendant. Niall Quinn made several telling defensive headers, although the Irishman almost opened the scoring at the other end, flicking Michael Gray’s cross narrowly wide.

It only took Villa just over a minute of the second half to confirm the impression of superiority when Dublin provided the simplest of finishes to the simplest of free-kicks from Thompson. Without receiving any noticeable attention, Dublin nodded his seventh goal of the season. It was only the second time Sorensen has been beaten at home this season.

The stadium was understandably flat but then, as the hour approached, Sunderland were gifted a way back into a contest they had appeared perplexed by. When Nicky Summerbee arrowed in a centre from the right, Quinn trapped the ball on his chest neatly, but was moving away from goal when the ball caught the back of Mark Delaney’s left arm.

There was no intent but referee pointed to the spot. Phillips does not miss from there and the Premiership’s leading scorer slotted in his 11th this season.