Football
ESPN staff 9y

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat pleased with draw against Aston Villa

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat was happy with a point and sees some positives to build on when the league resumes next month following the international break.

Sunderland took the lead thanks to a Yann M'Vila free kick, but Scott Sinclair bagged a brace to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Summer signing Jeremain Lens equalised for Sunderland early in the second half and Advocaat was pleased to have something positive to talk about.

He said: ''For the majority (of the match) Villa were the better team and a point from an away game is good. I am pleased with the performance.

''We started well and scored but then gave an easy goal away, which gives the other team a lift. 'We did okay again at the start of the second half but then Villa took over again and we had problems with their wingers.

''We were better in the second half but we have to improve again. 'It's a shame some of the players are going away but it is something to pick up next time, in the next game.''

Meanwhile, Sunderland defender John O'Shea was pleased with the character shown by his side to claim a draw.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the game, O'Shea said: "Overall [we're] satisfied, but disappointed because of how positive we started the game, going up 1-0 with a fantastic free kick from Yann M'Vila, a really tremendous strike.

"But when we concede so quickly after it that was the big disappointing thing. We've stopped playing how we started the game, we started to rush things that bit more, and we lost our composure from early on in the game.

"We went in 2-1 down, and showed the character in the second half to come back again and get a deserved point."

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