DARREN BENT'S return to the Stadium of Light may have created a stir among the fans, but by the final whistle he had very little to do with the late drama that resulted in a 2-2 draw.

Twice Sunderland fell behind and twice they pegged Aston Villa back to earn a point on an afternoon when Bent was left in no doubt about what his old fans now think of him.

While Bent, who scored 36 goals in 63 appearances during his 18 months in the North-East before demanding a move to Villa in January, had an off day in front of goal, there were plenty of goals going in around him.

Banners – one stating B£NT and another had DBTheLiar flashed across it - were hurled out to illustrate the hatred which now exists on Wearside towards Bent.

Whether or not the reception he got had an effect, Bent was quiet throughout the afternoon and when he did have two great chances to score he was denied by Kieran Richardson and Kieren Westwood.

But Bent's time at Sunderland, however they ended, did show that it can revive a stuttering career and that is exactly what it seems to be doing for Nicklas Bendtner.

The last two matches, though, have also shown that Sunderland could well be the platform for Connor Wickham to shine in the top-flight.

And, after Stephane Sessegnon's clever pass behind the defence, it was Wickham's clinically struck low drive seven minutes from time that cancelled out Stilyan Petrov's opener.

Sunderland had started quite brightly, but fell behind in the 20th minute when Petrov skipped round David Vaughan and curled a terrific left foot shot high into Simon Mignolet's top left corner from 22 yards.

After the restart Sunderland, who lost both Mignolet and John O'Shea through injury, also had their moments and were just starting to get on top when Bent almost got the goal to silence the home fans.

The ball broke kindly for him in the area, he turned and shot low from 18 yards and Westwood, diving the wrong way, somehow prevented it from going in with his legs.

That sparked cries of 'what a waste of money' from he stands that used to worship the £24m England striker, but that moment also reminded Sunderland that the game could still be lost. The Bent factor was soon forgotten in the drama provided during the closing stages.

With five minutes to go Richard Dunne rose with James Collins to flick Petrov's free-kick beyond Westwood to put Villa ahead again.

But, with a minute left, Larsson floated a similar free-kick over at the other end. This time Sessegnon was on hand to force the ball over the line to earn a point – before Bent was subjected to more jeers as he left the pitch.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet (Westwood 52); O'Shea (Bardsley 35), Turner, Brown, Richardson; Larsson, Colback, Vaughan (Meyler 82), Sessegnon; Bendtner, Wickham. Subs: Cattermole, Gardner, Ji, Elmohamady(gk).

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Given; Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; N'Zogbia (Albrighton 87), Herd, Petrov, Heskey; Agbonlahor, Bent. Subs (not used): Ireland, Delfouenso, Delph, Clark, Guzan (gk), Cuellar.