'Disaster' - Sunderland player slammed by Joe Hart for rare error against Aston Villa
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(Credit: Imago)
Ciaran Morrison
Sun 21 September 2025 16:47, UK
Sunderland could have claimed all three points against Aston Villa had it not been for one crucial moment during the game.
Matty Cash scored Aston Villa‘s first goal of the season before Wilson Isidor’s equaliser earned Sunderland a point.
Reinildo Mandava was sent off for Sunderland during the first half for a kick out at Cash, meaning the Black Cats had to earn a point the hard way.
It is now three unbeaten in the Premier League for Regis Le Bris’ side with this point lifting them up to 7th in the table.
Credit: Imago
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs has come in for criticism for Cash’s strike, and former Man City number one Joe Hart believes the shot stopper should have saved the effort.
“It’s gone through bodies, that late swerve, and as the ball swerves he realises in the middle of his goal, so he’s tried to get it as far away as possible rather than using his palms,” Hart explained.
“Got the timing wrong.
Bit of a disaster for Roefs.”
Robin RoefsStatsAppearances42Goals Conceded55Clean Sheets13Robin Roefs record at previous club Nijmegen.
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Roefs joined Sunderland from Dutch side Nijmegen in the summer transfer window and has started all five Premier League fixtures so far keeping two clean sheets.
Roefs has been impressive so far for Sunderland this season and has made a difference in-between the sticks on the club’s return to the top flight.
Despite Reinildo’s sending off, Sunderland stayed in the game and showed to a greater extent that they can compete in the Premier League.