Good afternoon! It's the final round of Premier League fixtures in 2014 and there can be no better way to end the year than with three crucial points. Two sides hoping to get back on track with a win today are Aston Villa and Sunderland, who both suffered defeats on Boxing Day.

It's mostly been a year to forget for Aston Villa and they come into this afternoon's match following a 1-0 defeat against Swansea City on Friday. That stretched their winless run to three games and still leaves them with plenty of work if they are to not get involved in another relegation battle.

Another team struggling at the wrong end of the table are Sunderland, who also lost in their last outing. They were beaten 3-1 by Hull City in what was the sixth game at home that they failed to win. Gus Poyet will certainly be hoping that their good recent form away from the Stadium of Light can continue today.

Right, the teams for this afternoon's match have been announced, so let's take a look at the players who be stepping out at Villa Park, starting with the hosts.

ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Clark, Cissokho, Cleverley, Delph, Sanchez, N'Zogbia, Weimann, Benteke

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, Vergini, Jones, O'Shea, Brown, Bridcutt, Gomez, Larsson, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Given, Okore, Bacuna, Herd, Lowton, Robinson, Grealish

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Cattermole, Altidore, Alvarez, Coates, Giaccherini, Buckley

Aston Villa are without the suspended Gabby Agbonlahor, who picked up his fifth booking of the season against Sunderland. Taking his place in the starting lineup is Charles N'Zogbia, while Andreas Weimann also returns to the side.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have made three changes from their Boxing Day defeat against Hull. Wes Brown, Liam Bridcutt and Connor Wickham are all restored to the starting XI, with Sebastian Coates, Lee Cattermole and Ricky Alvarez dropping to the bench.

Well, it hasn't been the greatest of Christmases for Villa fans, who saw their team fall to an eighth league defeat of the season on Boxing Day. A great free kick from Gylfi Sigurdsson consigned them to a 1-0 loss against Swansea and did little to Instil any festive cheer for the club.

It was another game in which they failed to find the net and their struggles in front of goal have cost them dearly. Having scored only 11 times this season, Paul Lambert's side have the worst attacking record in the league and it is an area that they desperately need to improve.

It has been a bit of a mixed December for the Villans, who started the month with back to back wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester City. That run was brought to an end by a defeat at rivals West Bromwich Albion, before a well-earned 1-1 draw with Manchester United in their last match before Christmas.

Villa will have looked at this upcoming period of games as potentially crucial to their season. Following today's match, they have another home fixture against Crystal Palace and an FA Cup tie against Blackpool. They then visit bottom of the league Leicester City, before facing a tricky looking run of games against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Making the trip to Villa Park today are a Sunderland side who have also had a very tough opening few months to the season. Things were looking up for them after beating heated rivals Newcastle United just before Christmas, but a defeat against Hull on Boxing Day quickly damped the mood for the club's fans.

It had all started so well for them against the Tigers as Adam Johnson gave them the lead inside of 30 seconds. However, Steve Bruce's side fought back and made it another day to forget at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland have actually won just one of their home games this season, so maybe it is a relief for them to be playing at Villa Park today. The Black Cats have won two and drawn two of their last four away fixtures, with their last defeat on the road coming at the hands of Southampton in mid-October.

Gus Poyet's side are just below today's opponents in the table and like Villa they have struggled in front of goal. They have only scored 16 goals in their 18 league games and the burden of finding the net has fallen heavily on Steven Fletcher's shoulders. It is an area they really need to improve upon if they are to avoid the same relegation drama that they ultimately escaped from last season.

Villa will be buoyed by their recent head to head record against Sunderland. They are unbeaten in their last six games with the Black Cats, although two of their last three meetings at Villa Park have ended in draws. However, they did record a 6-1 victory at home two seasons ago, with Christian Benteke firing in a hat-trick.

PREDICTION: With both teams in such a mixed run of form this game is a pretty tough one to call. Villa had been improving in recent weeks, but two defeats from their last three games has put pressure on them once more. It is the same story with Sunderland, who can't seem to find any consistency at the moment. Both teams would love to pick up the three points, but I'm going to predict this one finishing in a 1-1 draw this afternoon.

Ron Vlaar and John O'Shea lead their teams out of the tunnel and onto the pitch at Villa Park. As soon as pre-match handshakes and the other formalities have taken place the final match of 2014 for both sides will commence!

KICKOFF! We are underway at Villa Park!

Sunderland have made a really bright start here and Jones gets in down the left before seeing his low cross cut out at the front post by Clark. Villa manage to clear the resulting corner, but it's a positive opening for Poyet's side.

The Black Cats are well on top in the early minutes and they win another corner when Wickham finds some space and powers in a strike that deflects wide. Once again the visitors fail to make the most of the set piece as Villa easily clear the danger.

It's been quite an open start to the match and Villa have their first sustained spell of pressure in the visitors' half. The ball is eventually worked to Benteke on the edge of the box, who fancies his chances, but his strike goes well over the bar.

Villa are starting to dominate the possession and they are playing it around quite comfortably between their midfield and defence. It gets much trickier for them when they get into the final third, as the Sunderland defence are holding a strong line and are getting plenty of men back behind the ball.

The hosts are looking a lot more dangerous now and Hutton does well to find some space on the right and pick out Weimann in the middle. The Austrian then turns past one man, but as he is about to shoot, O'Shea is there to make a vital tackle and get the ball clear.

There is slight worry for Sunderland at the moment as Bridcutt is down and receiving treatment. The midfielder had collided with Benteke and Cattermole has started warming up on the sidelines as a precaution.

Play has got back underway since that stoppage, but Bridcutt has gone down again. It seems unlikely that he will be able to continue and Cattermole is now stripped off and ready to come on.

SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland do indeed make the change, with Cattermole coming on to replace Bridcutt.

SHOT! We haven't seen too many chances so far and the game has suffered because of that recent stoppage in play. Sunderland do manage to have an attempt on goal though, as Wickham works some space before bending a low strike wide of the far post.

After a decent opening to the match, it has all become rather drab at Villa Park. Neither keeper has been seriously threatened and a poor attempt that goes well wide from Gomez pretty much sums up the first half so far.

Sunderland have already lost Bridcutt to injury and Larsson is down in some pain at the moment. He hurt himself attempting to tackle Delph and it appears that he has a problem with his ankle.

Based on the first 30 minutes or so of this match, it really is no surprise that these two teams are among the lowest scorers in the league. There is a real lack of threat when either side comes forward and a goalless draw is looking the most likely outcome at the moment.

SHOT! For the first time in the match, one of the keepers has some work to do. Pantilimon is the man who is tested as N'Zogbia comes inside and bends in a strike from just outside the box, but it is at a good height for the keeper who easily makes the save.

Villa are ending the first half the stronger of the two sides, but they still haven't worked a clear goalscoring chance. Benteke has not been given much service and his strike over the bar in the opening stages has been his only impact this afternoon.

The visitors get into a very good position as Gomez is slipped in behind down the left. The Spaniard then has time and plenty of space to get a decent cross into the box, but his delivery ends up comfortably in the hands of the keeper.

YELLOW CARD! Vlaar picks up the first booking of the half after bringing down Fletcher on the halfway line.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time due to the earlier injuries to Bridcutt and Larsson.

A goal is still looking a long way off, but Sunderland are getting into some great areas deep inside the Villa Park. They cause a moment of panic in the hosts' defence when Wickham's shot loops up dangerously, but the ball is eventually scrambled clear.

The whistle blows for half time and an uninspiring first 45 minutes of football comes to an end. There really has been nothing to get excited about for the fans and if things don't improve then this game will certainly finish in a goalless draw.

In that first half, it was Villa who saw more of the ball, with 58% of the possession. Their five attempts on goal was just one more than their opponents, but both teams could only muster one shot on target.

A quick look to the bench shows you that there aren't too many attacking options for either manager. Villa may turn to Grealish to inject some pace into the side, with Agbonlahor unavailable. The Black Cats don't have many goalscorers either, but Altidore, Alvarez and Giaccherini could all come on and make an impact.

The two teams are both making their way back out onto the pitch and the second half will be getting underway in just a few moments!

Aston Villa take the kick off and get the second half started!

CHANCE! Villa miss a big chance to take the lead just a minute into the second half. Sanchez cuts out a loose ball and finds Weimann just inside the box. The Austrian then looks to drill a low strike into the bottom corner, but he scuffs his effort and it goes wide of the far post.

RED CARD TO ASTON VILLA! Villa have started the half promisingly, but they are now down to 10 men. Delph is the man who is dismissed for a high challenge on Gomez. It wasn't the best of tackles and Martin Atkinson was left with very little choice but to send him off.

With their man advantage you would have expected Sunderland to be putting their opponents under a great deal of pressure, but it has not worked out that way at the moment. In fact it is Villa who have seen more of the ball and are showing some promising signs in attack.

CHANCE! This is the first big opening of the match for Sunderland. Johnson slips a wonderful ball through to Wickham, who looks as if he will have a clear shot on goal, but Vlaar gets back and makes a stunning tackle to deflect the shot wide for a corner. Brilliant defending from the Dutchman.

YELLOW CARD! Cattermole is shown a yellow card for bringing down Cleverley.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa have made their first change of the match, with Bacuna reaplacing N'Zogbia.

Sunderland are really starting to crank up the pressure now and they have penned Villa right back on the edge of their own box. This is a great opportunity to take the three points with over 30 minutes to go playing against 10 men.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts have made another change, with Okore coming on for Clark.

SHOT! The Black Cats are sensing a goal and they manage to work the ball inside the box to Johnson. The winger then takes a touch and drills in a low strike, but it is too close to Guzan who dives low on the ball to make the save.

CHANCE! I'm not sure how Sunderland haven't scored here. A poor effort from Cattermole looks like it's going well wide, but Johnson keeps it in. He then delivers a low ball that deflects to Wickham, who sees his backheel blocked, before drilling the rebound just wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make their third and final change, with Grealish coming on for Cleverley.

CHANCE! Villa are living dangerously at the moment and Jones gets free on the left before firing the ball across the box. Wickham was there waiting at the back post for the tap in, but Guzan got a vital touch to divert the ball clear.

YELLOW CARD! Johnson is the latest player to pick up a card this afternoon for tugging Benteke's shirt.

CHANCE! Villa haven't threatened in a while, but they have managed to get a shot away here. It's Grealish with the effort, as the youngster cuts in from the left and bends in a low strike that leaves the keeper rooted to the spot, but ends up going wide of the far post.

SAVE! Despite being down to 10 men, it's Villa who are doing all the pressing now. They even have their best chance of the second half, as Vlaar arrives to meet a corner at the front post, before seeing his header pushed behind by Pantilimon.

SUBSTITUTION: The visitors have made their second change of the match, with Buckley taking Vergini's place.

Grealish has been a breath of fresh air for Villa since his arrival and when he gets on the ball the fans are on their feet. He has shown wonderful skill down the left and after another fine run, his dangerous low ball across the box is well cleared by the Sunderland defence.

Following that decent spell in the game for Villa, Sunderland are well in control now and the Villa defence have some serious work to do. So far they have not been breached, but the Black Cats are getting in down the flanks and delivering some dangerous balls into the danger zone.

OFF THE POST! Sunderland are within inches of winning the match as Gomez picks the ball up just outside the box and fires in a powerful effort that comes crashing back off the post.

SAVE! Having almost conceded at one end, Villa nearly score down the other. A fast break sees Benteke free Weimann down the right. The Austrian sees his shot blocked, but the ball comes back out to him and he slips in Bacuna, who sees his near post strike turned by the keeper.

There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! In the final minute of stoppage time Villa nearly win the match when Benteke is picked out at the back post, but he heads the ball into the side netting. That really was a huge moment and could be the final chance of the match.

That header by Benteke was indeed the final chance of the match and it has ended goalless. Villa will be delighted to have earned a point following Delph's red card, but Sunderland will surely see today as three points missed.

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us for analysis and player ratings of every Premier League match. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!