Last Updated: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:03
Steve Bruce admits Sunderland were beaten by the better team but believes Andy Reid's miss against Villa was crucial.
Villa moved into third place in the Premiership with the 2-0 win and even though Bruce had no real complaints, he was left to rue some poor defending and a missed opportunity by Reid.
"We were beaten by the better team, I have to say that," he revealed. "There were two defining moments: we gave a poor goal away in the first half, surrendered possession and gifted them the goal.
"In the second half, we started brightly enough and we had a big chance when Andy Reid had a chance - if that goes in, it might be a different game.
"But my opinion hasn't changed - if there is going to be one [team] that's going to be breaking into it [the top four], they are going to be there."