Sunderland complete rescue job

Sunderland 2 West Brom 0

Just weeks after admitting they needed divine intervention when they slipped seven points off the survival pace, the 46-year-old Uruguayan saw his team secure a fourth successive top-flight win for the first time since December 2000 to end their fears.

Jack Colback’s third goal of the season got the home side off to the perfect start when he turned Marcos Alonso’s near-post cross past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

And Sunderland were cruising 18 minutes later when Fabio Borini volleyed home his ninth of the campaign to give the home side breathing space.

Neither goalscorer may remain at the Stadium of Light next season with Colback out of contract and being linked with derby rivals Newcastle, and Borini wanted back at Liverpool after a hugely successful loan spell.

But if their goals prove to be their last meaningful contributions – Poyet has hinted talks with Colback could yet be reopened – they could not have been any more timely.

Colback needed just 13 minutes to set the ball rolling, turning up on cue to stab Marcos Alonso’s low cross past Ben Foster after Sebastian Larsson had slipped away from Claudio Yacob in midfield and picked out the full-back wide on the left.

Confidence coursed through red and white veins as Sunderland, once again led admirably by midfield enforcer Lee Cattermole, dominated.

A surging break out of defence and slide-rule pass from the former Middlesbrough and Wigan man allowed Adam Johnson to deliver a dangerous 23rd-minute cross which Steven Reid had to hack away.

But as Reid and fellow full-back found themselves repeatedly under pressure, the Black Cats were relentless and extended their lead with 31 minutes gone.

The Baggies now sit three points clear of 18th placed Norwich, with a vastly superior goal difference.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Alonso, Larsson, Cattermole (Giaccherini 88), Colback, Johnson (Bridcutt 61), Wickham (Altidore 61), Borini.

WEST BROM: Foster, Reid (Dawson 46), McAuley, Lugano, Brunt, Yacob (Mulumbu 46), Morrison, Berahino (Vydra 78), Sessegnon, Dorrans, Anichebe.

Referee: Lee Mason.