With two of the three relegation zones being officially occupied yesterday with the double dropping of Queens Park Rangers and Reading from the Premier League, Aston Villa and Sunderland will need no further reminder that there is still one spot in the bottom three remaining. Neither can consider themselves safe just yet, despite the fact both have enjoyed something of a mini-resurgence of late. Today's hosts have won three of their last six games while visitors Sunderland have taken six points from the last nine. A win for the Black Cats would all but guarantee survival while a win for the Villans would see them draw level with tonight's opponents on 37 points, having played one game more than 18th placed Wigan. With things hotting up at the bottom, this is a crucial three-pointer for both, and at least one of these sides is going to have their survival hopes dented tonight.