U23s: Aston Villa 2-3 Sunderland

Aston Villa fell to a 3-2 defeat against Sunderland in Premier League 2 on Friday night.

Fit-again Keinan Davis, who completed 76 minutes upon his return from injury, put Villa’s Young Lions into a deserved half-time lead, although the hosts were made to rue their profligacy in front of goal.

Black Cats striker Will Harris duly bagged a 10-minute hat-trick early in the second period to turn the game on its head, the second goal coming from the penalty spot.

Jaden Philogene-Bidace reduced the deficit with a spot-kick of his own in the 66^th minute but Villa could not find a leveller and were left to taste defeat at Bodymoor Heath.

The Villans, who suffered only their second league loss of the season so far, missed the opportunity to go top of Division 2 but remain in third place, with a trip to MK Dons next up on Tuesday in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Villa named a strong line-up for the encounter, with Davis, Philogene-Bidace and Carney Chukwuemeka included to face the Black Cats.

And the home side started very brightly as both Davis and Chukwuemeka were denied by Sunderland goalkeeper Jacob Carney inside the opening six minutes having created clear openings.

Filip Marschall did well to collect a deflected free-kick from Ellis Taylor but it was Villa who were on the front foot in the opening quarter.

Davis was proving lively in attack and was sent clean through again in the 18^th minute courtesy of a superb throughball by Lamare Bogarde only to place his shot wide of the target.

The Villa frontman was thwarted once more by Black Cats stopper Carney before Declan Frith, having bagged a matchwinning brace at Birmingham City on Saturday, fired wide in the 32^nd minute.

And the home side finally got the breakthrough they deserved shortly afterwards.

Philogene-Bidace did well down the left channel, fired a low cross into the danger area and Davis showed patience to create space before slotting home.

And Mark Delaney’s side could have added to their advantage as Philogene-Bidace went close before the interval.

But it was all change within 14 minutes of the second period as the visitors bagged three quickfire goals.

An unmarked Harris slotted home from close range for his first of the night in the 49^th minute, before converting a penalty shortly afterwards after Frankie Ealing upended Taylor.  

And Harris completed his hat-trick in the 59^th minute as he raced on to a long pass from Kenton Richardson to beat Marschall to the ball and convert from distance.

Villa, having been dominant in the first period, were shell-shocked but they made it 3-2 midway through the second period when Philogene-Bidace picked himself up to slot home from the spot.

Davis was replaced in the 76^th minute as he made a goalscoring return to fitness and Villa pushed forward in search of a leveller.

Captain Aaron Ramsey went close but it was not to be as the Young Lions suffered defeat.