Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Mon 20 April 2026 16:10, UK

Aston Villa were lucky to take all three points after some hairy moments against Sunderland.

The Villans were comfortable at 3-1 up, but it was that feeling that allowed Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor to bring the scoreline level.

It came out of nowhere but somewhat summed up the claret and blue outfit and their lackadaisical attitude at times this season.

That will all be forgotten after Tammy Abraham’s winner, as the number nine has saved many of his teammates from coming under scrutiny.

Ian Maatsen is one of those who hardly covered themselves in glory as Villa sealed an important 4-3 victory against Sunderland.

Ian Maatsen was poor vs Sunderland

The Dutchman has been in and out of the Villa side throughout his B6 career as he continuously swaps with Lucas Digne.

He was given the nod to start against the Black Cats in his 14th start of the Premier League season by Unai Emery.

He didn’t really manage to prove himself to be a regular member of the starting XI as he struggled against Chris Rigg.

The teenager scored a beauty in the first half, in just one example of the Villa left-back being caught out in the Midlands.

He featured across 70 minutes, but failed to contribute a single tackle or block, while only chipping in with one clearance down the left flank.

The 24-year-old was also dribbled past twice, gave away two fouls and lost out on six duels as the Mackems picked him out as a weakness.

That has all been forgotten by Abraham netting the winner against Sunderland, but it shouldn’t allow Maatsen’s showing to go under the carpet.

Maatsen assist can’t cover poor Aston Villa performance

Some may point to the fact that the Dutchman picked up an assist for Ollie Watkins’ second goal as a plus point to his performance.

That can’t really be taken too far, as he ultimately benefited from some excellent work by Morgan Rogers before firing a ball across the goal.

In reality, that was his only successful cross of three attempts at Villa Park, suggesting that it was more luck than skill that the B6 striker netted in the way he did.

Digne came on and grabbed an excellent assist of his own for the winner, with a cross that caused all manner of problems for Sunderland.

Villa were rightly buzzing with the result and the manner of it, but Emery can’t let it cloud his vision of Maatsen’s poor performance.