A Villa side without Baros and Mellberg started the game well with Barry and Ridgewell testing Davis early on in the Sunderland goal.

Villa continued to press but it wasn't until the stroke of half-time that they got the breakthrough.

Following a smart four man move, Barry found himself with the ball at his feet and from 16-yards out placed the ball past Davis to open the scoring.

Just a minute later Milner almost doubled the lead but his deflected effort hit the post, bounced off Davis, hit the post again and was cleared to safety.

Villa continued to run the game in the second period and with 15 minutes left, Ridgewell made sure of the points with a powerful header from six-yards.

The Black Cats did manage to muster a late consolation through the head of Collins but it was Villa who took the three points to bring a disappointing season to a close amid scenes of a half-hearted protest against David O'Leary and Doug Ellis.

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