UNLIKE those in certain quarters of the northeast who await the return of the messiah, the Aston Villa believers are quite content with a footballing evangelist, Martin O’Neill. A Billy Graham in terms of his capacity to inspire the faithful, the Ulsterman is more akin to a George Graham in his ability to extract the maximum from his players and one of his defenders, Luke Young, claimed this week that the disciplinarian bore closest resemblance to Graham, his first manager, when at White Hart Lane.

Certainly you sense that in those under his stewardship he has instilled a similar belief that anything is possible. There was a time when Wednesday night’s Carling Cup defeat by Queens Park Rangers would have been met with fury at the opportunity of a trophy spurned. Only now O’Neill and his men harbour headier ambitions. Even Sir Alex Ferguson declared recently that Villa were “dark horses” for the title. On this evidence, Champions League qualification is not beyond them.

Not because they were in scintillating mood yesterday. Far from it. Roy Keane’s enterprising Sunderland team ensured that there were some taut nerve endings among the home faithful. But more because Villa, who have a vigour and vim about them, are establishing admirable consistency in the league, even when not at their optimum.

The only concern for O’Neill is that the old devil called expectation could impinge on matters. And possibly that other concern for a club with a limited squad, fatigue. There was just a suspicion that was the case at the start here as the home team began as though the plugs were damp. But by half-time there was a pleasing rhythm to their midfield motor as Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov asserted themselves.

O’Neill’s side should have established a lead in the ninth minute. Barry’s corner offered Martin Laursen the kind of chance on which he thrives. Instead the Dane headed straight at Craig Gordon and he was made to rue that profligacy seconds later when Villa were stung by a classic piece of counter-attacking. Steed Malbranque released the flamboyant, yellow-booted Djibril Cisse, and neither Laursen or Curtis Davies could deny Sunderland’s French striker as he skipped though to give keeper Brad Friedel no chance.

Eight minutes later parity was restored when Liam Miller fouled Ashley Young. The victim produced a beautiful piece of topspin as he curled a free kick over the wall. Just after the half-hour, Young was to the fore again. This time the wall stood firm, but the ball rebounded to Petrov. He played it low into the area for John Carew to score with a clever backheel flick. Just before interval, Carew’s cross was spilled by Gordon, but he responded to thwart Barry’s follow-up.

The game was held up at half-time because a referee’s assistant, Alan Williams, was injured and unable to continue. Steve Bennett, originally the fourth official, ran the line. After the break, Sunderland pressed, but without penetration.

The dominating figure of Laursen must take much credit for that. A long-range effort from Liam Miller just cleared the bar. Then Cisse failed to get a clear header on Malbranque’s cross.

Villa could have eased their fans’ fears, but Gabriel Agbonlahor had a drive deflected wide and Barry volleyed just over.

Star man: Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)

Referee: P Walton

Attendance: 38,706

ASTON VILLA: Friedel 7, Luke Young 7, Davies 6, Laursen 8, Shorey 6 (Milner 69min), Reo-Coker 6, Petrov 8, Barry 8, Ashley Young 7, Agbonlahor 6, Carew 7 (Cuellar 90min)

SUNDERLAND: Gordon 5, Chimbonda 6, Ferdinand 6, Collins 6, McCartney 6, Malbranque 7, Whitehead 6, Richardson 7 (Stokes 78min), Miller 6 (Reid 59min, 7), Cisse 7, Diouf 5 (Murphy 59min, 6)