Ollie Watkins stepped off the bench to help Aston Villa complete a comeback victory against Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, equalling a club record of 11 consecutive wins in the process.
The visitors were second best in the first half, trailing to a Joao Pedro goal at the break, but the introduction of Watkins sparked Villa into life offensively, and he equalised shortly before the hour mark.
Several chances came and went for the transformed Villans before Watkins buried a header from Youri Tielemans’ corner to send the travelling support wild with seven minutes left.
The result tied the club’s record for consecutive wins, which was set in 1897 and achieved again in 1914, keeping Unai Emery’s team just three points off the top of the table heading into a game against pacesetters Arsenal on Tuesday.
The victory moves third-place Villa back within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who they face next in a huge clash at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Leeds hold Sunderland
Simon Adingra fired the Black Cats into a half-time lead, but the in-form Calvert-Lewin levelled early in the second period to pull Leeds further clear of the relegation zone.
Sunderland are still yet to lose at home on their return to the top flight but have been severely depleted by the departure of six players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Adingra was one of the Ivory Coast’s key men in winning the AFCON on home soil last year, but was not selected this time.
Sunderland were grateful for that decision as the former Brighton winger curled in his first goal for the club from Granit Xhaka’s fine through ball on 28 minutes.
Brian Brobbey headed against the crossbar in first-half stoppage time with the chance to double Sunderland’s lead.
But Leeds had been the better side for large spells of the first period and started the second with a bang.
Calvert-Lewin latched onto Brenden Aaronson’s low cross for his eighth goal of the season, seven of which have come in the last six games.
The former Everton striker’s form has played a major role in edging Leeds towards safety and keeping his manager Daniel Farke in a job.
The German was reportedly on the brink of being dismissed prior to a five-game unbeaten run that has taken Leeds seven points clear of the bottom three.
Sunderland missed the chance to leapfrog Manchester United and Chelsea but sit seventh, just four points outside the top four.