Tammy Abraham struck in stoppage time to hand Aston Villa a dramatic 4-3 victory over Sunderland, keeping their Champions League hopes firmly on track.
Villa looked set to cruise to victory after building a 3-1 lead, only to see Sunderland score twice in the space of 58 seconds late on to level the match.
But Abraham had the final say, turning home Lucas Digne’s cross in the 93rd minute to snatch all three points.
The win keeps Villa fourth in the Premier League and extends their cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea to 10 points, with just five games remaining.
Ollie Watkins set the tone early, heading Villa in front after just two minutes from John McGinn’s cross.
Sunderland responded through Chris Rigg’s impressive curling effort, but Watkins restored the lead before half-time with another header, this time from Ian Maatsen’s delivery.
Villa extended their advantage early in the second half when Watkins turned provider, setting up Morgan Rogers to finish calmly.
However, a late collapse threatened to undo their hard work.
Jadon Sancho’s misplaced pass allowed Trai Hume to pull one back, before another error led to Wilson Isidor equalising moments later.
Sunderland even had a chance to win it, but Emiliano Martinez denied Habib Diarra in a one-on-one, with Chemsdine Talbi unmarked alongside him.
That miss proved costly as Villa surged forward one final time, with Abraham bundling home the winner to cap a chaotic finish.
While Abraham grabbed the headlines, Watkins was Villa’s standout performer, scoring twice and providing an assist in a display that strengthens his case for England selection.
The striker has now scored 16 goals this season and continues to deliver at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Despite the defeat, Sunderland showed resilience and attacking quality, remaining in contention for European qualification.
However, missed opportunities proved decisive, with Diarra’s late chance and Talbi’s unselfish positioning highlighting what might have been.
Ultimately, a thrilling encounter ended in heartbreak for the visitors - and relief for Villa as they edge closer to securing a top-four finish.
