Bennett's blunder costs Cats

And just before half-time Anthony Stokes had the ball in the back of the net again when he headed home the loose ball after Villa's England keeper Scott Carson had spilled a Kenwyne Jones shot and Wallace saw his follow-up shot blocked, but the Republic of Ireland international was flagged offside.

Five minutes into the second period, Higginbotham was again the hero when he cleared a John Carew shot off the line after keeper Darren Ward had dropped a cross at the feet of the Villa frontman.

Villa eventually equalised from a free-kick, conceded by Paul McShane in the D just outside the penalty area in the 73rd minute.

Sub Shaun Maloney's set-piece beat the wall and Ward, ending up in the left side of the net.

Sunderland sub Grant Leadbitter almost snatched victory a couple of minutes from time but sent his header straight at the keeper when he should have done better.

The real controversy came in the final minute of injury time, however, when Sunderland won a corner on the left.

Leadbitter delivered the ball into the box and Carson punched the ball onto Collins' head, and it rebounded into the net.

The fans went wild but their celebrations were shortlived, with Mr Bennett ruling out the 'goal' for a foul on the keeper which only he seemed to spot.

No wonder Keane and the Red and White Army were left fuming!

SUNDERLAND: Ward, Whitehead, Collins, McShane, Higginbotham, Etuhu (Leadbitter 61), Yorke, Wallace (Cole 83), Murphy, Jones, Stokes (Chopra 70). Subs not used: Gordon, O'Donovan

ASTON VILLA: Carson, Mellberg, Bouma, Laursen, Knight, Barry, Reo-Coker, Gardner (Maloney 67), Young, Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Harewood, Taylor, Berger, Osbourne

REF: Steve Bennett (Kent)

ATTENDANCE: 43,248

BOOKINGS: Whitehead, Yorke (Sunderland), Gardner, Young (Villa)