Kevin Phillips grabbed a priceless second-half double to extend Sunderland's unbeaten home run in the Premiership.
The England marksman struck from the penalty spot on the hour after Dion Dublin had given Aston Villa a deserved lead, and he won it with a header eight minutes from time to send his side into third place in the table.
John Gregory's decision to employed Gareth Barry as a left fullback to keep an eye on winger Nicky Summerbee proved a wise one in an opening flurry.
Darius Vassell set the alarm bells ringing again with 17 minutes gone when he latched on to huge throw from David James, but although Delaney and Ian Taylor got forward well in support, they could not manufacture a cross.
Villa thought they had won a penalty seven minutes later when Vassell was brought down by Chris Makin, but referee David Elleray awarded a free-kick a foot outside the penalty area and Alan Thompson's delivery did not match his usual high standards.
It took the visitors just 75 seconds of the second half to make the pressure tell after Bould was penalised for a foul on Vassell.
Thompson curled his free-kick in to the near post and Dublin rose to power a downward header past Sorensen and into the bottom corner.
On the hour, Paul Butler's deep cross gave Quinn a chance to make his presence felt inside the penalty area, and Delaney was adjudged to have handled as he tried to prevent the Dubliner getting in a shot.
Referee David Elleray pointed straight to the spot and Phillips did what he does best from 12 yards to collect his 11th Premiership goal.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Makin, Bould, Butler, Gray, Summerbee (Reddy 80), Rae (Roy 75), McCann (Ball 83), Schwarz, Quinn, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Marriott, Dichio. Booked: Schwarz. Goals: Phillips 60 pen, 82.
ASTON VILLA: James, Delaney, Barry, Southgate, Calderwood, Boateng (Stone 83), Taylor, Hendrie, Thompson, Dublin, Vassell (Merson 55). Subs Not Used: Watson, Wright, Enckelman. Booked: Taylor, Delaney, Thompson. Goals: Dublin 46.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
