IT'S a scenario that has become all too familiar to Sunderland fans.

Once their club were mainstays among English football's elite, but that changed irrevocably when a then-record 68-year tenure in the top flight was broken by relegation for the first time.

The fateful year was 1958 and Sunderland, who evolved from the "Team of All the Talents'' into the "Bank of England Club'', were finally forced to accept second best.

Today, Peter Reid's Sunderland will ensure Premiership status for a fourth successive season if they win at Charlton and Ipswich, who host champions Manchester United, are unable to pull off a surprise victory.

Should that pan out, Sunderland will avoid the type of nail-biting finale which has been a recurring nightmare ever since that first drop. The Wearsiders have been relegated seven times in their history and on all but one occasion have put their supporters through last-match drama.

It was 44 years ago yesterday that Alan Brown first took Sunderland down when a win at Portsmouth on the final day was in vain.

So began a six-year cycle which saw them promoted under Brown in 1964 and relegated in their last match in 1970 - a home defeat by Liverpool.

That was two years after Brown had returned to Roker Park following his post-promotion defection to Sheffield Wednesday.

It was another six years before they again won back their top-flight credentials. Yet it was an ephemeral big-time return, with immediate relegation in 1977.

On a controversial night, Jimmy Hill literally had a major say in Sunderland's destiny.

Jimmy Adamson, who had succeeded Bob Stokoe as manager that season, watched his side lose at Everton.

Meanwhile, rivals-in-distress Coventry and Bristol City were playing at Highfield Road. The kick-off was delayed because of crowd congestion and the sides were level when news filtered through that Sunderland had lost.

Cue Mr Hill, TV pundit and chairman of Coventry, who raced to the tannoy to announce the Wearsiders' defeat.

Coventry and Bristol City, whose sides included Leeds' old boys Terry Yorath and Norman Hunter respectively, knew they had no reason to break further sweat; with Sunderland beaten, a point apiece was enough to save their skins.

Sunderland had to wait another three years before, with Ken Knighton in charge, they made it back into the First Division.

However, in 1985, under Len Ashurst, they went down again, this time in their penultimate match at Leicester.

And two years later, they suffered their greatest ignominy when Stokoe returned as caretaker manager in a desperate attempt to clear up the mess left by Lawrie McMenemy.

But it was like Kitchener riding into Khartoum, and the unthinkable occurred: Sunderland were relegated to the old Third Division after losing a play-off with Gillingham over two legs.

Denis Smith led them back into the First Division within three years, albeit by default after Swindon, who beat them in a play-off final at Wembley, were demoted for financial irregularities.

But the last-day woes continued, with relegation confirmed in 1991 after they lost at Manchester City and last time, five years ago, following defeat away to Wimbledon, only 12 months after Reid had masterminded promotion.

Now Wearside fears the worst again. Sunderland, fourth bottom in the Premiership, are being hunted down by Ipswich, now only two points behind.

Ravaged by injuries, Sunderland are in freefall after collecting only four points from the last 18, and scoring three goals in the process.

If that wasn't enough, their goal difference is the worst in the Premiership apart from the sides already relegated, Derby and Leicester.

The only crumb of comfort is Ipswich face Man. United and fellow title-chasers Liverpool in their last two matches - and Sunderland's final game is at home to Derby.

But Charlton still need a point to be certain of staying up themselves and despite the special bond that developed between the clubs after the unforgettable promotion play-off final four years ago, Sunderland know they can't expect any favours at The Valley