THESE are frustrating times on Wearside and Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor pounced to further dampen the mood with a second half winner at the Stadium of Light.

While the Black Cats' problems in front of goal continued, Agbonlahor was on hand 12 minutes after half-time to volley Christian Benteke's knock down over the line.

It was sort of finish Sunderland are in desperate need of themselves from a front-man who had failed to score in the Premier League this year.

Boos and jeers rang around the Stadium of Light for the second time in a week after Tuesday's Capital One Cup exit to Middlesbrough.

And in truth it was not until the closing stages of the 90 minutes that Sunderland actually looked like they might find the net.

It took until Lee Cattermole's long rang shot was parried away by goalkeeper Brad Guzan five minutes from time for Sunderland to actually hit the target.

Villa were hardly full of chances either, but it was Agbonlahor that found the breakthrough which proved decisive.

When Matt Lowton's delivery from the right reached Benteke, the towering striker nodded down perfectly for Agbonlahor to end his long wait for a league goal.

It meant Sunderland – who went close through Fraizer Campbell in the last minute - are still to find a second Premier League win of the season.

And their only goal in the last five games was courtesy of Newcastle striker Demba Ba's own goal in the Wear-Tyne derby.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet: Bardsley (Campbell 81), O'Shea, Cuellar, Colback; Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner (McClean 67), Johnson; Sessegnon (Saha 67); Fletcher. Subs (not used): Rose, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Westwood (gk).

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bennett (Lichaj 11 (Stevens 71)); Bannan, Westwood; Weimann (Holman 85), Ireland, Agbonlahor; Benteke. Subs (not used): Given (gk), Albrighton, Delph, Bowery.