Kevin Phillips was both villain and hero at the Stadium of Light as he set Aston Villa on the road to a precious victory over former club Sunderland.

The 32-year-old scored 132 goals in 235 league and cup appearances for the Black Cats during his six years on Wearside, but he left the north-east having bitten the hand which once fed him with a 55th-minute header to spark a rout.

That the opening goal was made by former Newcastle full-back Aaron Hughes will not have made it any more palatable for the home fans, but by the time they started to file out of the ground long before the final whistle, they were in even darker mood.

Gareth Barry made it 2-0 with eight minutes remaining and Milan Baros added a third within seconds as Sunderland fell apart, and many were already on the way home when Dean Whitehead converted a last-minute penalty.

The Wearsiders, who were once again booed by sections of their own support among a crowd of 39,707, have now lost five Barclays Premiership games in succession and face a desperate fight for survival.

It was a game neither side could afford to lose, and after a run of five successive defeats in all competitions, one Sunderland really had to win.

Indeed, with fellow strugglers Birmingham and Liverpool due at the Stadium of Light in the Black Cats' next two fixtures, there was a feeling on Wearside in the run-up to kick-off that these next three games could have a major say in the destiny of the club's season.

That tension was broken momentarily as Phillips, Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann, all reminders of better days at the Stadium of Light, were welcomed warmly back to the club with which they made their names, but as soon as hostilities began, there was little room for sentiment.

Sunderland, who collapsed to a dreadful 4-1 home defeat to Portsmouth in their last home game, started brightly enough as Sorensen was made to earn his money.

The game was only two minutes old when he had to get down well to collect Jon Stead's long-range effort, and he was troubled further six minutes later by Alan Stubbs' shot on the turn.

He got his position right with 11 minutes gone to collect Stead's near-post header, but opposite number Ben Alnwick, again preferred to Kelvin Davis, was soon called into action.

The youngster managed to tip away Phillips' curling 16th-minute effort and then came bravely from his line to deny Baros seven minutes later.

Baros forced a good block from Gary Breen within seconds of the second half starting after embarking upon an enterprising run from McCann's pass, but it was the home side who should have been in front on 49 minutes after Nyron Nosworthy read Barry's dummy and set up Stead wide on the right.

The striker looked up before pulling the ball square for Le Tallec, but the youngster was leaning back and skied his effort high over the bar.

Villa almost made the most of their escape within seconds when Milner came inside and unleashed a left-foot drive which had Alnwick beaten, but flew just wide of his right post.

However, the visitors were not to be denied for very much longer, and they went ahead on 55 minutes as Andy Welsh was made to pay for his hesitation.

The midfielder gave up on the ball as it headed for his goal-line, but Baros did not, and when he back-heeled it to Hughes he drilled in a cross which the unmarked Phillips headed home at the far post.

Sunderland came desperately close to an equaliser within a minute when Christian Bassila crashed a shot against the underside of the bar, but the ball bounced down and out and was hustled away to hand Villa a reprieve.

Olof Mellberg headed a Milner corner over on 58 minutes with the home side rocking, and it was as much with relief as appreciation that Phillips was applauded by the home fans as he hobbled off to be replaced by Luke Moore 10 minutes later.

Villa should have wrapped up the points 19 minutes from time when Baros' flick from Hughes' pass put Moore clean through on goal, but Alnwick timed his advance to perfection to block and keep Sunderland's hopes alive.

But the goalkeeper was deserted by his defence twice within a minute as the clock ran down, Barry slotting home from Milner's cross on 82 minutes and Baros blasting a third home seconds later to leave the home fans - or at least those of them not heading for the exits - in ugly mood despite Whitehead's late strike.