Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Aston Villa's clash with Sunderland in the Premier League.

Changes to both sides are inevitable this afternoon after both teams were in action in the League Cup in midweek. Scott Sinclair scored a hat-trick for Villa and it will be interesting to see if Sherwood sticks with the former Manchester City and Swansea man today.

Jermain Defoe was another who was amongst the goals in midweek, and the ex-England striker is likely to be retained for the visitors today, although new man Ola Toivonen could start. We'll have the respective team news imminently...

Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Bacuna, Gana, Westwood, Sanchez; Sinclair, Gestede.

Sunderland: Pantilimon; Jones, Van Aanholt, O'Shea, Kaboul; Cattermole, M'Vila, Rodwell, Lens; Defoe, Graham.

So Villa stick with Sinclair alongside new man Rudy Gestede up top, while Sunderland's latest signing, Toivonen, starts on the bench, with Danny Graham preferred alongside Defoe...

The League Cup never fails to throw up some unusual scorelines, and both teams were involved in thrillers during the week, with Sunderland eventually getting the better of Exeter 6-3 on Tuesday.

Villa were involved in their own barnstormer, and Sherwood's men booked their passage into the third round with a 5-3 victory over Notts County.

Villa subs: Bunn, Bennett, Gil, Cole, Veretout, Kozak, Ayew.

Sunderland subs: Larsson, Toivonen, Coates, Fletcher, Watmore, Gooch, Mannone.

Plenty of creativity on the bench for the Villans this afternoon with the likes of Carles Gil, Joe Cole and Jordan Ayew whilst Libor Kozak also offers a goal threat as a big target man. Meanwhile, Duncan Watmore is part of the Sunderland bench, and the youngster has caught the eye for the Black Cats this term. New man Toivonen is on the bench as mentioned, but Advocaat also has Steven Fletcher available to him. Youngster Lynden Gooch is also part of the seven subs.

BREAKING NEWS: New signing Ola Toivonen starts on the bench against Aston Villa. #AVLSUN pic.twitter.com/CiGggBQr0w

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 29, 2015

Villa of course will be looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Addressing the media ahead of the game earlier this week, Villa boss Sherwood said that he felt today's result won't be pivotal to his side's campaign overall...

He said: "It is an important game but I am not sure it is a landmark. The team got 10 points from four games last season and ended up struggling.

"It is not how you start, it is how you finish - and how you perform in the middle would help. We want to take the game to Sunderland. They will sit deep and look to bring us on and we will certainly be coming on to them."

PRE-MATCH VIDEO: Our lads walk a lap of the pitch in the glorious B6 sun. #AVFC #SAFC #AVLSUN https://t.co/FXJsH3EkiZ — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 29, 2015

Of course with the transfer window edging ever close to its September 1 deadline, it would remiss of us not to mention the latest news surrounding both clubs. A recent report has claimed that West Bromwich Albion defender Joleon Lescott is close to move to Villa. The Baggies centre-back is surplus to requirements at The Hawthorns, and the Villans are looking to conclude a deal for around £1.5m.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are reportedly trying to engineer a deal for ex-West Ham United midfielder Kevin Nolan. The Liverpudlian was released by the Hammers earlier this month, and Cardiff City are also said to be interested in the 33-year-old. Sunderland also added Sweden international Ola Toivonen to their ranks this week, and as mentioned he is on the bench today.

One deal that appears unlikely to come to fruition is the move for Jonathan de Guzman. Asked about the deal, Advocaat simply said: "No, I am not hopeful. He will not come." The Sunderland boss also lamented the lack of investment in his squad from the club's hierarchy this summer.

He said: "I totally understand because he has spent as much as he did over the last years and has seen nothing back every year, playing for relegation..."

"For [Ellis Short] it is not a problem to spend money if the player will show a lot to the fans but a lot of players - not one or two or three, much more - he's still paying for and they're not here. That is not good for the club and I can understand a bit of the suspicion."

It is a perfectly reasonable argument on the behalf of the Sunderland manager, but after seeing his team start slowly this term, and with their consecutive seasons of struggling to avoid the dreaded drop, Advocaat may be privately calling for the owner to dip into his pocket further ahead of the closing of the transfer window...

PREDICTION: So we're around 10 minutes or so away from kickoff here, so it's time to get a prediction... Both teams come into the game struggling for form, and Sunderland may find playing away from a disgruntled Stadium of Light easier today. Defoe is always a threat up top, but I think both teams will cancel each other out, so I'm saying a 1-1 draw...

UPDATE: Meanwhile, it's finished Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal at St James' Park, where an own goal from Fabricio Coloccini was enough to give the Gunners the points against the 10 men. The full report is here.

PRE-MATCH VIDEO: The lads are completing their warm-up. #AVFC #SAFC #AVLSUN https://t.co/L6JBECexJ9 — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 29, 2015

WATCHING ON: Dick Advocaat keeps an eye on the warm-up. #AVLSUN pic.twitter.com/tgv7aE1JV6 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 29, 2015

The two teams are just emerging now, so kickoff is seconds away...

KICK OFF! And we're underway at Villa Park...

It's been a positive start from the visitors here, and they've made some incisive darts from wide positions early on without threatening the goal too much. Advocaat will be pleased so far though...

Not a whole lot happening in the early stages, both teams sturggling to retain possesson for any length of time, and no chances of note for either team so far.

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland (Yann M'Vila) M'Vila opens the scoring for the visitors with a 25-yard free kick. What a hit from the French midfielder, the curl left Brad Guzan with no chance after Jordan Amavi had committed something of a needless foul.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Sunderland (Scott Sinclair) Cattermole gives away a penalty with a silly challenge inside the area on Sinclair, and the forward rewards Sherwood's faith in him with his fourth goal of the week from 12 yards. Two goals in three minutes here.

CHANCE! Ashley Westwood goes close for Villa after Sunderland back off the midfielder. He hits his shot early across Pantilimon's front post, but it hits the side netting. Positive stuff from Westwood.

Villa are starting to exert the pressure more now and Gestede places a side-foot volley goalwards from Amavi's cross but it is easily held.

The Villa fans are in full voice in the Holt End this afternoon. Sinclair's equaliser has certainly cheered them up...

CHANCE! Chance of sorts for Gueye who drives at goal before firing wide. It is certainly Villa who are in the ascendency here. Can they make it count with their second goal though? Sunderland aren't under too much pressure at the moment, but Defoe and Graham aren't seeing much of the ball.

Sunderland seem keen to retreat and get men behind the ball at this point. A draw would represent a decent result for the visitors but surely they aren't thinking about that too much now?

UPDATE: West Ham have taken a 2-0 lead against Liverpool at Anfield.

Big waste by Gestede, whose through-ball is easily cut out after Sunderland gave away possession well inside their own half. A bit more care was needed from the former Blackburn striker there really.

Alan Hutton is afforded plenty of room wide right and the Scotland defender is able to pick a cross out but Younes Kaboul did well to thwart the Villa strikers. Hutton had acres there though, where was Van Aanholt?

Scott Sinclair's equaliser...

© Getty Images

Leandro Bacuna is given the chance to deliver a teasing ball into the area from inside left position, but his centre is easily cleared by Sunderland. Sherwood will be disappointed to see decent chances beibn spurned so easily here...

CHANCE! Micah Richards slices inside the area and the ball falls to Carlos Sanchez at the back post, but the Colombian can only fire over the bar with his left foot. A big chance for Villa that one. He should have done better there.

OUCH! Richards down the other end draws applause from the fans after he crashes into the post cutting out a cross. Brave stuff from the defender there. Meanwhile another counter-attack sees Villa three against two at the top end, but again it is wasted.

Lovely build up from the Villans as Amavi feeds Sinclair at the near post, and the in-form forward is on hand to convert and give the Villans the lead. Great move from the home side.

Villa want an immediate third and Hutton, who has been a menace all game, picks out Gestede at the back post, and the striker's header goes just wide. Hutton has done well this half. Villa certainly the better side at the moment.

Great leap from Gestede finds Bacuna, but Sunderland do well to cut out the attack. It remains in the Sunderland half though and the home side win a corner on the left...

Villa will certainly be pleased with their half's work there. They were wasteful at times, but they deservedly lead in front of their own fans. Scott Sinclair is on fire at the moment, and he's now up to five goals for the week, and Sherwood's decision to keep faith with the ex-Man City man appears to have been inspired. Sunderland need to get on the ball more in the second half. Defoe and Graham are isolated up top...

UPDATE: So let's have a look at the other scores around the Premier League this afternoon... Liverpool are trailing West Ham 2-0 at Anfield, Chelsea are goalless with Crystal Palace, while neither Manchester City or Watford were able to make the breakthrough at the Etihad. Stoke lead West Brom 1-0 while Bournemouth are beating Leicester City 1-0.

All the respective half-time reports are available on our Sports Mole homepage. To see this game's report, click here.

KICK OFF! And we're off and running in the second half. Ola Toivonen has come on for Lee Cattermole...

CHANCE! Substitute Steven Fletcher forces Guzan to tip a powerful header over the bar. Good effort from the Scot, who has started brightly.

Well, he's hit better in his day for sure... Jermain Defoe is allowed the chance to shoot from around 25 yards out, but the effort goes well wide and well over.

Instant impact from Toivonen who feeds Lens and the attacker rolls past Clark too easily before tucking it away with his left foot inside the area. Much improved display from the visitors this half already! Game on...

Gana can't get the ball off M'Vila and the frustration gets the better of him and fouls the Sunderland man wide left. Sunderland have been so much better this half, and Villa can't get out their own half.

Fletcher finds himself a yard of space in between the two Villa centre-backs from a corner, and he perhaps should have done better with the header...

CHANCE! Big chance for Villa as Sinclair feeds Richards, and Villa supporters are already in celebration, but the defender can only find the arms of Pantilimon from close range. That really should have been 3-2 there. Game is very open at the moment.

CHANCE! Great play from Amavi who beats the defenders with some step-overs, and his deflected effort finds the side netting. Really good stuff from the Villa man. He has played well this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTE: Carles Gil comes for Bacuna for his first appearance of the season. The Spaniard is back in the picture after recovering from an ankle injury.

Not a lot happening at either end at the moment, and the atmosphere has gone a little flat at Villa Park. The game very much finely poised as we head into the final 20 minutes here...

CHANCE! Typically excellent run from Defoe and he is picked out brilliantly by M'Vila, but the striker's first touch lets him down inside the area. It was a hard one to bring down in fairness.

Westwood, Gill and Sinclair combine on the edge of the box but Sunderland eventually snuff out the danger.

Gil's cross is met by Gestede, but despite his famed aerial prowess, the striker can only nod the ball wide. It was a bit behind the forward in fairness. Both teams still searching for the elusive third...

CONTROVERSIAL! Gil's one-two with Gestede sees a chance open up for him, but he tries to go around Kaboul inside the area, before taking a tumble. He is subsequently booked for diving and it was the right call, certainly.

CHANCE! A good hit by Westwood inside the area after arriving late onto Gestede's knock down, but the effort is well saved by Pantilimon. A good opening for the home side. You get the feeling that there is a winner to be had here...

A teasing delivery by Amavi is well headed clear by Billy Jones, but it is Villa who are looking most likely to net a third here.

Gestede does really well to roll Kaboul on the edge of the box, but his subsequent turn and shot doesn't threaten the goal. He should have done better there. Villa again pushing hard for the winner...

CHANCE! Richards climbs well above Kaboul from a corner and the defender can only head over the bar.

Costel Pantilimon is booked for time wasting when trying to take a goal kick. Villa fans are furious with the Sunderland goalkeeper.

Sunderland will certainly be the happier of the two sides at the full-time whistle. The Black Cats have been poor this season, but a point on the road is not to be sniffed at. Aston Villa perhaps shaded things, but they will be disappointed with their profligacy at times during the game.

Well that's all from Sports Mole's coverage of today's game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon.