SUNDERLAND HELD TO A DRAW BY VILLA
Julian Joachim, starting in place of club record signing Juan Pablo Angel, gave the visitors an undeserved lead shortly after half time, but Gavin McCann capped off a memorable week by grabbing an 84th minute equaliser for Peter Reid's side.
But the match will be remembered for an erratic performance by England international David James under the watchful eye of national coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
Villa boss Gregory left record signing Juan Pablo Angel on the bench preferring Julian Joachim to partner Dion Dublin up front with Paul Merson playing in the hole behind the front two.
Reid, celebrating his 250th game in charge of Sunderland, was able to recall Michael Gray to the starting line-up and Niall Quinn started despite his recent back problems.
And it was Quinn who had the first chance of the match when he latched on to a dreadful clearance by James after only four minutes.
The Villa keeper sliced a backpass straight into the path of the Irish international, but he couldn't supply the finish Peter Reid's side so desperately craved dragging the ball wastefully wide of the far post.
Almost immediately, Sunderland had another chance to take the lead when John Oster found himself clear of the Villa backline. The former Grimsby starlet dallied on the ball for far too long, though, and Villa eventually cleared the danger.
Villa were looking shaky and were there for the taking, but Peter Reid's side, despite Quinn winning everything in the air, were unable to take their chances. This was a match of two sides lacking in confidence and boy, did it show.
Schwarz then fired wastefully high and Hutchison became the first player to get a shot on target when he fired straight at James from a free kick.
Villa struggled to get into the game and it wasn't until 10 minutes before the break that they mustered their first effort at goal.
It was hardly even worth the wait as Merson tried to lob Sorensen from fully 30 yards, but failed to test the new Danish number one.
Before then, Sunderland had a great chance to take the lead when James made another howler which must have had Eriksson wincing in the stands.
He spilled a rather tame Gavin McCann drive into the path of Julio Arca, but the Argentinian elected to cross instead of shooting after skillfully rounding James. His cut-back fell to Hutchison, but the former Everton midfielder screwed his shot horribly wide with James all at sea.
Joachim was then presented with a good chance after a slip by Jody Craddock let him in, but Sorensen did well to keep his shot out as Villa finally tested the Sunderland shot-stopper.
Quinn was forced to retire early when he was kneed in the back by Alpay. The former Manchester City and Arsenal striker was replaced by Daniele Dichio and Reid will be worried his lanky front-runner has still not shaken off his long-term back problem.
Six minutes after the interval and totally against the run of play, Villa took the lead, but Reid will be disappointed in the way in which his side conceded the goal.
James' long punt upfield was not dealt with by The Black Cats defenders and when the ball fell to Julian Joachim in the Sunderland area, the former Leicester player swiveled and lashed the ball into the bottom corner.
Sunderland then laid siege to The Villans goal, but all credit to the Villa back three, they coped admirably with everything Sunderland had to offer despite their dreadful start to the match.
McCann had a couple of half chances, but failed to connect properly with either and Don Hutchison - outstanding all evening - was unlucky to see his free kick smash against the crossbar.
Villa then had a glorious opportunity to complete the perfect smash and grab when Lee Hendrie latched on to Alan Wright's long punt. He laid the ball into the path of Dublin, but his measured effort drifted the wrong side of the upright.
But Sunderland came back and Dichio had a glorious chance to level matters with little over 10 minutes remaining. The former QPR player decided to head Hutchison's flick on back across the face of goal though, when he really should have tested James.
Finally, Reid's side drew level. Hutchison was fouled for the umpteenth time - this time by Gareth Barry - and Stefan Schwarz saw his free kick deflect off the Villa wall. Not for the first time, James could only parry the ball and Daniele Dichio managed to pull back across the face of goal where McCann was on hand to tidy up from barely a yard out.
With time running out, Sunderland threw caution to the wind as they looked for the three points to aid their quest for a European place. And in stoppage time, they thought they had got their just rewards.
After initially making a fantastic save to deny Dichio, James fumbled the resulting corner and the ball fell at the feet of the former Queens Park Rangers striker who rammed the ball into the roof of the net only to be denied by referee Steve Lodge who blew for a foul on the Villa keeper.
The result was harsh on Sunderland who totally dominated possession. They desperately lacked the killer instinct of Kevin Phillips, though, and Niall Quinn's early retirement was also a big blow.
But if they are to genuinely be a side competing for a Champions League place, it seems that Peter Reid must get the cheque book out once more.