IT was party-time at the Stadium of Light last night as Sunderland booked their place in the play-offs with victory over new Division One champions Norwich City.

On-loan midfielder Carl Robinson's first goal for the Black Cats proved enough to cement their place in the top six, while Stoke's 4-1 win over second-placed West Brom ensured the Canaries still claimed the Nationwide League crown.

Sunderland's second highest League crowd of the campaign turned out to witness a night of action that proved fruitful for both sets of supporters, who celebrated jointly with a Mexican Wave.

Robinson's bullet header a minute before half-time means Sunderland, who only needed a point, can go to Burnley planning ahead for the play-offs.

Mick McCarthy's men, deprived of a number of stars through injury, travel to Turf Moor on Sunday in third place and six points ahead of seventh-placed Wigan with just the one game remaining.

McCarthy, after ending a run of five matches without success, will focus on trying to maintain confidence ahead of the play-off push.

The last time Norwich arrived on Wearside five years ago Sunderland won 1-0 and last night's only survivor for the hosts from that day, Darren Williams, failed to shake off a hamstring problem sustained on Saturday.

Williams' absence was just one of a number of selection problems for McCarthy, who also had Jason McAteer, Paul Thirlwell, Stephen Wright, Julio Arca, Matt Piper and Colin Healy ruled out.

But Jeff Whitley and Gary Breen recovered from ankle and neck problems respectively to face the rampant Canaries.

Norwich arrived in the North-East unbeaten in their last seven matches - form which had guaranteed them promotion long before this fixture.

But the leaders started like they were chasing more than the point that would have guaranteed them the title, regardless of West Brom's result.

Within the first seven minutes the visitors carved open three glorious chances as Sunderland looked as though they were going to struggle to adapt to a new-look defence in which Joachim Bjorklund, a central defender by trade, was asked to play at right-back.

On two occasions Kevin Cooper, who made just one substitute appearance during a couple of months on loan with the Black Cats, curled in dangerous corners which were headed just off target by skipper Craig Fleming.

Inbetween the teasing Darren Huckerby tormented Sunderland down their right flank before his back-post centre was headed against the post by Mathias Svensson and then cleared.

Despite having two play players out of position, the hosts began to feel more at home as the first half progressed and they were the team creating the better opportunities.

Marcus Stewart, making his third start in a row, flicked a Whitley volley into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Robert Green, who moments later turned a Sean Thornton free-kick over the bar for a corner.

Huckerby flashed a 22-yard right-foot shot just wide of Mart Poom's left upright, but neither of those chances were as good as the ones that followed as half-time approached.

Skipper George McCartney, proving to be a good outlet for Sunderland on the left flank, crossed with his right foot.

He found Stewart, whose header dipped just the wrong side of Green's left post.

An even better chance fell to unfashionable striker Kevin Kyle. After being fed the ball by Stewart, the big Scot had time to pick his spot seven yards from goal but he somehow failed to hit the target.

By this time Sunderland were well on top and were looking more like a side gunning for the championship rather than a play-off spot.

Kyle went closer still to giving his side the upper hand. This time his header, from Thornton's right wing free-kick, was headed incredibly off the line by full-back Marc Edworthy.

Sunderland were finally rewarded for their adventurous play by grabbing the crucial first goal just one minute before the interval.

Robinson, hoping to extend his stay with the club beyond this season, powered his way through a packed box to head another pin-point Thornton dead ball beyond England stand-by keeper Green.

Promotion is still a long way from being secured but that fact failed to stop Sunderland turning on the style from there on in.

Norwich continued to probe, mainly through Huckerby's pace, but found no holes in McCarthy's resolute backline and their fortunes on the pitch were summed up by brief moments of magic by Phil Babb.

It was just a shame that Babb's perfectly weighted through ball, after jinking his way past two Canaries forwards on the halfway line, found Stewart reacting too slowly to turn the ball beyond Green.

Now, suddenly, all Sunderland fans' eyes begin to wander towards the end of season shoot-out.

The play-offs will give them the chance to ensure they will be competing with Norwich in the Premiership come August