*Sunderland boosted their Premier League survival hopes as they ended a run of five straight defeats with a win over bottom side Aston Villa.*

The hosts took the lead against the run of play when Patrick van Aanholt’s low 20-yard shot deflected wickedly off Micah Richards and into the net.

A brilliant acrobatic volley from Carles Gil levelled after the break, before Jermain Defoe’s low strike.

Defoe added a late third, leaving Villa with no wins in 18 league matches.

*The biggest match of the season?*

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce described the match as the “biggest of the season” and his players looked to be affected by nerves as they let Aston Villa dominate early on.

The Black Cats went into the game seven points adrift of safety, and you could see why as they continually gifted the visitors possession.

Only Vito Mannone’s low save from Jordan Veretout kept things level until, against the run of play, Van Aanholt’s shot deflected off Richards to leave goalkeeper Brad Guzan wrong-footed.

The hosts knew only a win would do and, after Gil’s stunning equaliser, Defoe stepped forward to give the Black Cats new hope and move them to within four points of safety.

*Defoe the difference*

Defoe has now scored eight Premier League goals against Aston Villa in his career but there can have been few as important as these two.

The Sunderland striker was on the periphery of things for the large part but, when given the opportunity, he showed his ruthlessness in front of goal.

The former England man had four shots in total. He hit the target with three of them, scored twice, and had a late goal disallowed for offside.

How Aston Villa could do with such clinical finishing.

*Have Villa any hope?*

There are few - if any - signs of encouragement for Aston Villa, who look doomed to life in the Championship next season.

While there are still 54 points to play for, a club record 18 league matches without a win is hardly the form to suggest they are capable of any ‘great escape’.

They produced some nice football at times but seemed short of confidence in attack.

Aside from a brilliant equaliser, the closest Villa came to scoring was Veretout’s first-half effort as they finished with just three shots on target.

Having scored only 16 league goals this season - the lowest total in the top flight - Villa remain 11 points from safety.