NEW ENGLAND cap Gavin McCann spared Sunderland's blushes at the Stadium of Light last night when he salvaged an equaliser six minutes from time.

McCann, who was a second half substitute in England's friendly victory over Spain, tapped the ball home after a close-range shot from stand-in striker Danny Dichio had cannoned off the legs of former England keeper David James.

It was a precious goal for Sunderland, who were in danger of slipping to their third defeat in four home games at the hands of a moderate Villa outfit who had won only two of their last 14 Premiership games.

It inspired a desperate late rally by the Wearsiders, who thought they had forced a stoppage-time winner when Dichio forced home a six-yard drive. But Barnsley referee Stephen Lodge had whistled for a foul on the keeper, a controversial decision.

Sunderland thought they had taken the points when Dichio drove the ball home - and television replays showed that the keeper had not been fouled by Craddock but instead had clattered into teammate Ian Taylor.

In the end, however, it was a fair result. Villa had threatened to claim all three points when striker Julian Joachim fired home in the 51st minute and threatened to hang on to their lead, despite considerable home pressure, which eventually paid off for Peter Reid's men.

Sunderland should have taken the lead in the third minute, but Niall Quinn missed a wonderful chance, firing wide from well inside the box after James had sliced a goal kick straight to the big striker.

The Villa defence looked decidedly shaky in the early stages and manager John Gregory, alarmed at the way Sunderland were threatening, was quickly on the touchline shouting instructions.

A high centre from Arca on the left had James flapping at the ball, but the home attack could not take advantage, then an awful miss-kick by Steve Staunton also went unpunished.

Quinn, going up for a high ball, was pushed in the back by Alpay in the 12th minute, but McCann's freekick was disappointing.

Villa broke forward in the 14th minute and missed a great chance when Dion Dublin chested down a right wing centre and knocked a great pass sideways to Lee Hendrie, but the midfielder sliced his shot.

Hendrie tried to make amends with a well-flighted pass forward to Julian Joachim, who threatened to burst clear, but Jody Craddock intercepted with a perfectly-timed challenge.

Play was fast but not very skilful and both sides were persisting with high balls which all too frequently went to opponents.

But Villa went close in the 21st minute when Dublin got up highest to a left-wing corner from Paul Merson, only to see his header scrambled clear in front of goal.

Merson again put the Sunderland defence under pressure with a dangerous free-kick after Stefan Schwarz had fouled Alpay from behind, but Emerson Thome cleared with a firm header.

Villa defender Alpay was booked for a push on Don Hutchison just outside the area and the Scottish international, playing in an emergency striking role in place of the suspended leading scorer Kevin Phillips, brought a desperate save on the line from James with a well-hit free-kick.

Villa had an incredible series of escapes in the 33rd minute when a shot from McCann came back off the legs of the uncertain James. Arca was on the rebound in a flash, taking it round the keeper, but instead of trying a shot he rolled the ball across the six-yard box to the unmarked Oster, whose miscued shot travelled in front of goal and was scrambled clear.

Three minutes later Sunderland lost the services of Quinn, troubled again by a back injury, and the Republic of Ireland international was replaced by Dichio.

It was Sunderland's turn for an escape in the 40th minute when a great ball from Dublin sent Joachim clear and he was able to steady himself before hitting a powerful low left foot shot which brought a superb diving save from the advancing Thomas Sorensen.

Craddock was lucky to get away with a desperate shirt-tug on Joachim as the little striker escaped his marker and chased a smart ball from Dublin in the 43rd minute as Villa were starting to look dangerous.

The second half opened with a spate of minor fouls but there was a flash of aggression in the 48th minute when McCann cracked a low left-foot shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Villa snatched the lead with a goal out of nothing in the 51st minute. A long clearance from James bounced to the edge of the Sunderland area, where Hendrie put Thome under pressure before Joachim pounced on the loose ball to smack a low shot into the right corner of the net from 15 yards.

The goal seemed to stun the Sunderland fans in the 47,196 crowd then came a gasp of disappointment as another piece of poor handling by James was not put to use by the home forwards.

But Sunderland went close to an equaliser in the 59th minute when Hutchison, who had been fouled by Stone, who was booked for dissent, rapped his free-kick against the far side of the bar. Merson, always a danger for Villa, went on a great run from the halfway line, leaving Chris Makin in his wake, and it took a fine challenge from Thome to prevent the former England man breaking into the box. Sunderland were pushing men forward and Dichio got up to a centre from the overlapping Makin, but his header was well off target. Another foray saw James push away a shot from Hutchison and after a scramble held a 20-yard drive from Schwarz.

Sunderland were almost caught out by a quick counter-attack in the 74th minute when Hendrie controlled a difficult ball and from his pass inside Dublin drove a low shot wide from just inside the box.

But Sunderland drew level in the 84th minute after another blunder by James.

The keeper could not hold a 20-yard free-kick from Schwarz and when Dichio pushed a shot against James' legs the ball travelled to McCann, who knocked it home from close range, just inside the post