Matty Cash scored Aston Villa’s first Premier League goal since May to end the club’s goal drought, but Unai Emery’s team remain without a win this season.
The Villans were held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Sunderland, with Wilson Isidor cancelling out Cash’s opener from distance. Villa had opened the Premier League season without a goal in their first four games and required a speculative effort to end that drought.
Afforded room to shoot, Cash let fly and the full-back’s swerving effort deceived Robin Roefs in the Sunderland goal. Villa’s 67th-minute opener arrived having been given a man advantage after Reinildo’s red card for Sunderland. The summer signing was dismissed for a petulant kick out at Cash before half-time.
Matty Cash scored Aston Villa’s first Premier League goal since May!#SUNAVL pic.twitter.com/xCFrPTdmCB
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 21, 2025
Despite that, Sunderland refused to give up and the Black Cats levelled just eight minutes after Villa broke the deadlock. Isidor reacted quickest to a ball headed back into the box, steering home his third goal of the campaign.
The 25-year-old is the first Sunderland player to score in each of the first three home games of a Premier League season since 2010/11.
Villa dominated the possession (71%) but again lacked ideas in the final third. Morgan Rogers endured a quiet afternoon, while the introductions of Harvey Elliott, Donyell Malen and Jadon Sancho did little to improve their fortunes.
Ollie Waktins missed their best chance to win it late on, failing to make contact with a teasing Sancho cross when unmarked.
Villa remain in the relegation places, while Sunderland sit seventh.
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