Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland
Aston Villa came from behind to continue their excellent sequuence of results which has seen them sitting in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.
The Black Cats had taken the lead through Djibril Cisse after 10 minutes but Young quickly equalised with a free-kick from 20 yards out after being brought down by Liam Miller.
Then Anton Ferdinand handled just outside the box and Young's deflected free-kick found John Carew, via Stiliyan Petrov, and he grabbed the winner after 33 minutes.
An Andy Reid 30-yard free-kick went just wide for Sunderland on 87 minutes.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"I thought we did brilliantly. We had to fight back and try to blow the cobwebs away after losing to QPR in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.
"We didn't have much more energy left and I think the majority of the crowd will forgive us for keeping the ball in the corner in the last few minutes.
"They will forgive us because in terms of entertainment we are as strong as anyone in Britain in that department."
Sunderland boss Roy Keane:
"For all our decent play and good possession, particularly in the second half, we didn't test the keeper enough.
"The first goal was very sloppy, a needless tackle, and the wall could have done better. For the second one we were in possession and gave it away.
"We invited the trouble on and they took full advantage so credit to Villa for that."
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey (Milner 70), Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew (Cuellar 90).
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Salifou, Gardner.
Booked: Petrov.
Goals: Ashley Young 18, Carew 33.
Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson (Stokes 79), Miller (Reid 59), Cisse, Diouf (Murphy 59).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Chopra, Healy, Henderson.
Booked: McCartney.
Goals: Cisse 10.
Att: 38,706
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
