HT Sunderland 0-0 Aston Villa - Stalemate at the Stadium of Light

Emile Heskey came closest to breaking the deadlock on his return to the Aston Villa starting line-up in the first half of tonight's Carling Cup fourth-round clash at Sunderland.

The England striker latched on to Gabriel Agbonlahor's low cross in the second minute but his clever flick just drifted narrowly wide of Craig Gordon's right-hand upright.

Jordan Henderson carried Sunderland's biggest threat, his volley just before the break bringing a fine save from Villa keeper Brad Guzan.

 Heskey was tonight handed the chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the Aston Villa side after being named in the starting XI for the Carling Cup clash at Sunderland.

Heskey was included at the expense of John Carew as manager Martin O'Neill made three changes to the side which drew at Wolves on Saturday.

Nigel Reo-Coker and goalkeeper Brad Guzan were also included with Steve Sidwell and Brad Friedel dropping to the bench.

Steve Bruce retained six of the side which started at Birmingham at the weekend with Paulo Da Silva, Nyron Nosworthy, George McCartney, Fraizer Campbell and Daryl Murphy all getting rare starts. Top scorer Darren Bent was missing with a knee injury.

Villa's decision to lay on free coaches from the Midlands swelled the away following to more than 2,000 and they were almost celebrating inside two minutes.

Gabriel Agbonlahor found a yard of space down the right and his low cross was nearly flicked in by Heskey at the near post.

It took Sunderland 12 minutes to muster a response, Jordan Henderson's 25-yard drive comfortably gathered by Guzan.

The hosts were slowly warming to the task, however, with Kieran Richardson fizzing a free-kick wide of the target.

After a promising opening the game then went into a lull with Bruce adopting a 4-5-1 formation with Campbell playing wide right and Kenwyne Jones up front on his own.

Sunderland had the upper hand, though, Henderson trying his luck again with a drive which just missed the left-hand post.

Campbell was proving a constant threat and, after beating Warnock for the umpteenth time, his cross had to be diverted away from the lurking Jones by Richard Dunne's glancing header.

The home side had what looked a legitimate claim for a penalty turned down after 29 minutes when the impressive Henderson went down under a challenge from Warnock but referee Phil Dowd waved away the protests.

Henderson tested Guzan again before the break with a fierce volley from the edge of the area which the United States keeper did well to palm clear.

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