Sessegnon stooped to head in Sebastian Larsson’s free kick just four minutes after Villa defender Richard Dunne had seemed to have clinched victory with a header of his own.

Sunderland’s first equalizer had come in the 38th when Connor Wickham canceled out Stilyan Petrov’s stunning 20th-minute opener.

Bent who jeered throughout on his first return to Wearside since leaving in January. He missed a good chance in the 70th when he shot straight at substitute goalkeeper Kieran Westwood.