Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1

IT WAS the 94th minute of the opening day of the season when Michael Chopra converted to Mackemism'.

A low shot into the corner of Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson's net was the cue for the ceremony in front of 44,000 already practising disciples.

On Saturday, in the 83rd minute at Villa Park, the Newcastle-born striker escaped the attention of Zat Knight and lifted the ball over Scott Carson to renew those Wearside vows.

There were around 40,000 devotees less this time around, but those that made the trip were as delirious as they were back on August 11, 2007.

Just as he had secured their first three-point haul of the season at home, Chopra's strike handed them their first away three-point haul of the campaign at Aston Villa.

The fact that it had taken 16 attempts to do so was irrelevant to the away fans who were merely delighted to be there to witness it.

In-between those two Chopra goals the £5m signing from Cardiff has managed just another two, and the question marks over his ability to score at the highest level clearly still weigh heavy on the 24-year-old's shoulders.

"A lot of people would have still been saying they paid £5m for me and I'm not worth it. All I have got to do is keep trying to score goals and shut those people up," said Chopra.

AFTER picking up just three points from a possible 45 Sunderland finally chalked up their first away win of the season at the 16th attempt with arguably their best performance of the campaign on their travels. They were forced to wait until the 83rd minute for substitute Michael Chopra to be handed the freedom of Villa Park to pick up Kieran Richardson s through ball and lift the ball over Scott Carson and send the vocal away following into delirium. True Carson did make it easy for him - backing off and then committing himself early to the floor - but that mattered not a jot to the away fans. They had Craig Gordon to thank within a minute of the goal for producing an excellent low save from Gabriel Agbonlahor to preserve the advantage that gives the Black Cats a precious four-point cushion over third-bottom Bolton. The goal was Sunderland's first shot on target of the game and, despite enjoying a great deal of possession, they didn't threaten Carson's goal. The Villa keeper was a greater threat to himself, and somehow went unpunished in the first half when he clearly handled outside the box when he fumbled a cross under pressure from Daryl Murphy. That will now be immaterial to Roy Keane whose side, under the promptings of Andy Reid and Richardson, were fully deserved of their victory.

"People talk about the price tag but, in my eyes, I'm just a footballer.

I'm not the one who says I want to go for this much or that much'.

"You have to score goals. I have managed to score four this season.

It's been disappointing at times but hopefully I can get a few more goals following today."

That record hasn't been helped by manager Roy Keane's decision to play him wide on several occasions this season or indeed his decision not to play him at all as happened against Chelsea at home the previous weekend.

For whatever reason - Keane highlighted a drop off in training from Chopra along with Kieran Richardson and Daryl Murphy - he left him out of the 16 for the game against Avram Grant's side.

That decision brought an approach from Dave Jones, which Keane rebuffed labelling it as the Cardiff boss merely chancing his arm'.

"I think it all came from last week when I was left out of the team. I think they (Cardiff) might have made an inquiry," said Chopra.

"I spoke to a couple of players from Cardiff and they just told me a little bit what has been happening and said that they've been interested.

"But the main thing for me is to do well for Sunderland and stay in the Premiership."

And was he not swayed by the fact that having not played in this season's FA Cup he would be eligible for Cardiff 's semi-final at Wembley against Barnsley - or regretting leaving the Welsh capital in the first place?

"No, I've never believed that (it was wrong to leave Cardiff). I believe that playing in the Premier League is going to be the best thing for my career and coming to Sunderland has been the best thing for my career so far because I've been playing most of the games and scoring goals."

Having invested £5m in the player Keane had no intention of farming out his second top scorer to the Championship side he came from - a decision vindicated by the goal on Saturday.

"I get enquiries about a lot of my players and he (Chopra) was going nowhere. Not in a million years, no.

"I admire Dave (Jones) for chancing his arm. He fancied his chances. There's nothing wrong with that. Unless you make the call you never know. He got a very polite No.' Just like I got when I was trying to buy Chopra."

The yes came after Sunderland's offer reached £5m but his two late goals that have secured an extra four points could prove priceless.

Both have come with an appearance off the bench and Keane opted to start with his signing from Cork City, Roy O'Donovan, partnering Daryl Murphy in attack.

More importantly to Sunderland was the partnership of Richardson and Andy Reid on the left of midfield. Both were keen to stretch the home side's midfield to an extent where England's Gareth Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker were peripheral figures.

But as much as Sunderland pressed they didn't stretch Villa keeper Scott Carson who, despite conceding just once, had a stinker.

His first foray out of his box should have produced a free-kick for Sunderland at the edge of the area and a red card for the England keeper.

Under pressure from Murphy after Reid's high looping ball in he lost the ball and clearly handled outside his are.

Referee Howard Webb appeared to have a clear view but waved play on and Villa cleared.

With Keane's opinion of how Sunderland have suffered at the hands of officials this season clear for everyone could he pass up this opportunity to have his say?

"If it was the other way around, I'd have been disappointed if it had been given against us so no I don't have a problem with that decision," said Keane, whose side also saw a handball in the box by a Villa player also go unpunished.

"If we'd drawn the game, you might have got a different answer.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. I've no problem with the officials today."

By the time of Carson's non handball Roy O'Donovan had missed the first of two chances created with inventive play down the left - first shooting over from 12 yards before doing likewise with a clearer headed opportunity.

Villa had few chances in the first half with Craig Gordon losing the ball from a corner only to make amends by saving low down from Carew who also saw an overhead fly wide of the Sunderland goal.

Martin O'Neill brought Marlon Harewood on early in the second half and within a minute of his arrival he turned Nyron Nosworthy and with his first touch beat Gordon but couldn't guide his shot inside the post.

Sunderland's best chance before the goal came to substitute Grant Leadbitter but he snatched horribly at his effort which flew off his boot and turned into a wayward crossfield ball rather than a shot.

A point appeared a good return from a trip to the West Midlands until Sunderland broke up a Villa attack and Richardson found space to hit an early long ball over Knight and into the path of Chopra.

Carson couldn't decide whether to come out or stay put and made Chopra's decision easy, falling to the floor as the substitute lifted the ball over his head and into the net.

There was still time for Gordon to save low down after Harewood played in Agbonlahor on the right of the box but Sunderland were well worthy of away win number one of the season.

Watch the match highlights from Monday, March 24

5:25pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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