ARDENT Burnley fan Alistair Campbell was an interested onlooker as Sunderland ended their Division One campaign at Turf Moor yesterday.

But, despite a 2-1 win over the Clarets, even Tony Blair's former spin doctor would struggle to convince anybody that the Black Cats are entering next weekend's play-offs in the best of health.

For long spells, Mick McCarthy's side were second best to a Burnley outfit that have shipped 77 goals in a Division One campaign that ended with them just two points above the relegation zone.

Headers from Gary Breen and Kevin Kyle cancelled out Glen Little's early opener for the Clarets and, following Tuesday night's 1-0 win over champions Norwich, ensured Sunderland go into their play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace with back-to-back wins under their belt.

But the Black Cats will have to cut out the defensive lapses and profligate finishing that peppered yesterday's display if they are not to end an arduous season in the most disappointing of fashions.

Victory in their 54th game of the campaign might have ensured there would be no winning end to Felling-born Stan Ternent's six-year reign at Turf Moor, but Sunderland will have to go up another gear or two when they travel to Selhurst Park on Friday night.

With more than one eye firmly focused on that crucial clash, McCarthy chose to take no risks with his team selection for a game that was more about limbering up for next weekend than desperately seeking three points.

Skipper George McCartney was given more time to recover from his knee problem, while McCarthy's first-choice strike pairing of Kyle and Marcus Stewart found themselves sitting on the bench in preparation for the impending play-off opener.

Goalkeeper Thomas Myhre made only his third start of the season in place of the suspended Mart Poom and Carl Robinson was preferred to club captain Jason McAteer at the heart of midfield.

Myhre has found his action severely limited this season, and the Norwegian international hadn't even touched the ball when he almost found himself picking it out of the back of the net in the third minute.

Lenny Johnrose's flick on caused panic in the Sunderland box and midfielder Mark McGregor was given time and space to plant a firm header against the crossbar.

Such defensive failings could cost the Black Cats dear in their end of season shootout and, within the space of a minute, their recent problems at the other end of the field were also exposed.

McCarthy's side were able to boast just two goals in their previous six outings - neither of which had been scored by strikers - and Tommy Smith's timid attempt at converting John Oster's left-wing cross didn't suggest that he was the man to halt that run. Darren Byfield also scuffed an early attempt at goal as Sunderland struggled to find their feet, and the visitors were punished for their lethargic start when Burnley opened them up again in the 11th minute.

Richard Chaplow ghosted in behind the Black Cats' backline and, when he rolled Paul Weller's through ball across the face of goal, Little was left with the easiest of tap-ins from the edge of the six-yard box.

Little might have been handed the captain's armband on his final Burnley appearance before making a summer move to First Division rivals Reading, but it was still overly generous of Sunderland to gift wrap him a goal on his Turf Moor swansong as well.

The presents didn't end there though, with Byfield also getting in on the act midway through the first half.

Phil Babb whipped in a teasing cross from the left touchline and, with Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen rooted to his front post, even the Jamaican international will struggle to explain how he contrived to put a glanced header past the opposite upright from no more than four yards out.

Thankfully for Sunderland, Breen was on hand to show Byfield how the job should have been done when Burnley's backline entered into the spirit of generosity eight minutes before half-time. Breen found himself utterly unmarked inside the Burnley six-yard box as Sean Thornton swung in an inviting corner kick, and the centre-half planted the simplest of headers past a horribly exposed Jensen.

McCarthy's policy of constantly rotating his front two hasn't helped any of his strikers build up a head of steam in the last month, but his decision to introduce both Kyle and Stewart after the interval was fully vindicated given Byfield and Smith's anaemic first-half display.

It was Burnley who almost regained the lead four minutes into the second half though as Myhre made a fine sprawling stop to keep out Robbie Blake's 20-yard piledriver. That save was the cue for the home side's most potent spell of the game and, after David May had headed wastefully wide, Myhre produced his second superb save to palm away Blake's stinging half-volley.

Sunderland looked to be rocking as they conceded possession and territory inside their own half but, totally against the run of play, they claimed an unlikely lead shortly after the hour mark.

Oster has been the Wearsiders' most inventive spark so often this season and, when Stewart headed the winger's chipped centre against the crossbar, Kyle was on hand to become Sunderland's joint top-scorer with his 14th goal of the campaign.

Result: Burnley 1 Sunderland 2.

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