Summary Aston Villa took a giant step toward staying in the Premier League by thrashing Sunderland 6-1.
BIRMINGHAM (AP) - Aston Villa took a giant step toward staying in the Premier League by thrashing Sunderland 6-1 on Monday thanks to Christian Benteke s second-half hat trick.
The Belgian international scored in the 55th, 60th and 72nd minutes at Villa Park to tally 27 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club.
More importantly, Villa moved five points clear of Wigan in the final relegation place. Sunderland, Villa and Newcastle are all on 37 points with three matches left. Wigan has 32 points but with four games remaining.
Goals from Ron Vlaar, Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor ensured Villa recorded its largest win this season.
Danny Rose scored for Sunderland to level at 1-1, but the visitors were over run in midfield and couldn t contain Villa s rampant attack.
