SUNDERLAND will be playing in the third tier of English football for only the second time in the club’s history after a dramatic defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Burton Albion, in need of the points themselves, had fallen behind when Paddy McNair struck the Black Cats ahead in the 34th minute.

But Sunderland couldn’t hold on after a spirited second half from the visitors who were left celebrating climbing to within two points of safety courtesy of two late goals that stunned Wearside.

Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent headed in the equaliser with four minutes remaining before strike partner Liam Boyce nodded in a winner in the second minute of stoppage-time.

Sunderland still thought they had an equaliser before the end when McNair was deemed to have handled the ball over the line after falling to the floor with Kyle McFadzean.

Referee Darren England had given the goal at first but then his assistant agreed with the Burton protests and ruled it out.

It meant Sunderland - who are down because Burton still have to play Bolton - had gone from edging a step towards safety to now knowing they will be in League One come August after a second dreadful season in a row, despite it looking like they might hold on.

Chris Coleman made the decision to change his goalkeeper again, the seventh time this season that Sunderland’s man between the post was dropped. This time it was Lee Camp’s turn, opening the door to Jason Steele again.

It was the first time Steele had started since his red card at QPR on March 10, six games ago, and the break appeared to have done him good because he displayed strong handling and got in the way of most things sent his way.

Other than that Billy Jones and John O’Shea returned to the defence after confirmation that Bryan Oviedo and Donald Love were injured, and Sunderland were positive again after three spirited displays earned points recently.

Burton, who beat Derby in their last game, also needed a win and there was a very tentative opening, with neither goalkeeper having really dangerous shots on their goal to deal with.

Burton keeper Stephen Bywater did have to dive left to gather a McNair strike after Callum McManaman’s in the 23rd minute.

But Bywater failed to deal with McNair’s second driven effort 11 minutes later when he powered a 20-yarder into the middle of the net after Ashley Fletcher’s lovely run and pass.

Even though Sunderland looked relatively comfortable, Burton should still have been level at the break. Lucas Akins’ cross to the back post picked out the unmarked Joe Sbarra whose poor volley dropped wide.

After the break was all about whether Burton could pull themselves level. They kept pressing straight from the restart but continued to struggle to test Steele.

The nearest Burton came until the latter stages was when Akins’ delivery from the right, after he was left with the freedom to pick his spot, caused problems but Sunderland did enough to clear.

Steele did have to be alert to turn away a Jacob Davenport free-kick before the frantic finale when there were chances at both ends, and the introduction of former Sunderland striker Bent met by deafening boos.

Then, after dealing with the boos and jeers, Bent was on hand to nod in from close range after Steele had did well to save from Hope Akpan’s shot from distance.

And after Sunderland had it the bar at one end and Bent had a volley saved, Boyce glanced in the winner deep into stoppage-time.

There was still time for McNair to have his equaliser ruled out, but then the whistle blew and it was all over. Sunderland are down.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Steele; Jones, Kone (Clarke-Salter 82), O’Shea, Wilson (Matthews 60); Cattermole; McManaman (Asoro 66), McNair, Honeyman, McGeady; Fletcher. Subs (not used): Camp (gk), LuaLua, Maja, Ejaria.

BURTON (4-1-4-1: Bywater; Brayford, Naylor, McFadzean, McCrory (Turner 61); Davenport; Akins, Murphy (Sordell 82), Akpan, Sbarra (Bent 75); Boyce. Subs (not used): Campbell, Buxton, Allen, Samuelsen.