Michael Drennan hit a terrific hat-trick as Villa swept Sunderland away with a stunning second-half blitz.

Four goals in an incredible 12-minute period - which included Drennan's treble - gave the boys in claret and blue three points at a windswept Academy of Light.

Graham Burke also got in on the goalscoring act as Gordon Cowans' team made it back-to-back victories.

Both sides took a while to get to grips with the vicious winds which made playing conditions difficult at the Black Cats' training headquarters.

The testing conditions ensured a very tight first period with few clear-cut opportunities for either team.

The visitors had goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist to thank for two fine saves which denied Craig Lynch.

Firstly, the Swiss custodian pushed away a 20-yard effort from the Sunderland man, before diving to his left to palm a curling shot around the post.

The best Villa could manage before the break was a volley from Burke which sailed over the bar.

But it was all one-way traffic in the second-half, with Villa carving out chances at will.

Tom McNamee made a crucial block from Jack Grealish's shot after some mesmerising skill by the winger, while Drennan and Daniel Johnson both miscued with long-range efforts.

The deadlock was finally broken, though, on 65 minutes when Drennan raced on to a perfect defence-splitting pass from Samir Carruthers before slotting past Ben Wilson in the Sunderland goal.

The Kilkenny-born striker then turned provider for Burke, picking out his compatriot who coolly dribbled around the keeper to make it 2-0 on 70 minutes.

Five minutes later, Drennan swept home his second after expertly bring down a cross from substitute Jordan Graham on his chest.

Drennan's hat-trick arrived 13 minutes from time. He stepped up to clip a left-footed free-kick into the corner of the net and give Villa a superb victory.

SUNDERLAND: Wilson, Marrs, Ferguson, Laidler, Harrison, McNamee, Mitchell, Gorrin, Noble, Mandron, Lynch. Subs: Beadling, Dixon, Joyce [for Gorrin, 65], Honeyman.

VILLA: Siegrist, Barton, Webb, Donacien, Williams, Stieber, Carruthers, Johnson, Grealish, Drennan, Burke. Subs: Graham [for Burke, 71], Barrett, Crooks [for Carruthers, 84], Lewis [for Webb, HT].