Michael Chopra earned Sunderland their first away win of the season to give a massive lift to their survival hopes - and put a huge dent in Aston Villa's chances of European qualification.
The £5million summer capture from Cardiff City came off the bench and struck the winner with seven minutes remaining.
Sunderland played with more confidence than that normally associated with a side in the bottom six and showed as much attacking intent as their opponents.
Andy Reid pulled the strings in midfield and Kieran Richardson also caused problems and it was his pass that allowed Chopra to take advantage of hesitancy by Zat Knight and Scott Carson.
Villa have now collected only two points from the last four matches to virtually end their hopes of automatically qualifying for Europe.
Villa started promisingly and Gabriel Agbonlahor found Shaun Maloney in space on the left flank. The former Glasgow Celtic player cut inside but his left-footed drive was blocked.
under pressure
Sunderland retaliated in the swirling wind and Roy O'Donovan spun sharply in the box but his low shot ended up in the side netting.
The Black Cats, searching for their first away win of the campaign, were not afraid to commit players forward.
The home side did most of the early pressing and John Carew was only inches wide with an overhead kick after controlling a ball into his feet from Craig Gardner.
Villa were fortunate when O'Donovan misread the bounce when trying to run onto a through-ball from Reid when in a yard of space.
And Carson was lucky not to be penalised when he failed to hold onto a lofted cross from Danny Collins when under pressure under from Daryl Murphy.
Replays showed the on-loan goalkeeper may have been outside the box when he handled the ball but referee Howard Webb waved played on.
Sunderland were opening Villa up with some first-time passing and O'Donovan missed a good chance to put them ahead.
drifted wide
Murphy supplied an inviting left-wing cross and O'Donovan was unmarked at the near post but he could not keep his header down.
Sunderland were presented with a good position when Nigel Reo-Coker brought down Dean Whitehead 30 yards out but Reid's curling effort drifted wide.
Then Gordon clung onto a low cross-shot from Agbonlahor before Marlon Harewood replaced his former West Ham United team-mate Reo-Coker as Villa reverted to a 4-3-3 formation.
Harewood almost made an instant impact when he shrugged off the challenge of Nyron Nosworthy and flicked the ball wide of Craig Gordon - but also past the far post.
Agbonlahor shrugged off his marker to send a dangerous low centre across the Sunderland six-yard box but no-one was able to apply the finishing touch.
But with seven minutes left Chopra sped past Knight and flicked Richardson's long ball past Carson into the net.
