SUNDERLAND endured a miserable end to the year by losing comprehensively to Burnley in a game that dished out even further injury woe to David Moyes’ squad.

The Black Cats, with the exception of a relatively bright opening ten minutes, were often on the back foot and defended poorly so could not have complained when Andre Gray put the Clarets ahead with the first of his three goals just after the half hour.

That had followed the first of two first half withdrawals due to injury, with Lamine Kone forced off after crashing into the advertising board and that may have placed his appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in doubt.

Then things on that front got even worse when Sunderland – already with a number of key players sidelined through injury for the long term – saw Victor Anichebe collapse to the floor holding his hamstring at the end of the first half.

After the break there were two further goals for Gray inside two minutes, with away supporters heard singing ‘are you watching Ellis Short?’ ahead of a transfer window which could well determine Sunderland’s Premier League future.

There was also a penalty for Ashley Barnes in the 67th minute before Jermain Defoe (who else?) pulled one back with 19 minutes remaining.

Sunderland had already been forced to make a change in goal for the trip to Turf Moor, with Vito Mannone asked to slot back in to replace Jordan Pickford, who is to miss eight weeks with a knee injury.

Skipper John O’Shea, recalled as a precaution for Jason Denayer who was protecting a thigh problem, and Adnan Januzaj were the two other changes.

And after Januzaj had shot over early on, Burnley looked more dangerous. Gray had threatened a couple of times before he was gifted the opener on 31 minutes.

The former Brentford man, whose goal beat Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, was sent clear on goal when Papy Djilobodji left his man to jump with O’Shea and Ashley Barnes; less than seven minutes after O’Shea had to slot in front midfield to cover for the injured Kone.

Stephen Ward and Scott Arfield also went close for Burnley before Anichebe, one of Sunderland’s most in form players, went down looking as if he could be facing a number of weeks out with the hamstring injury.

Even though Fabio Borini could have pulled one back seconds after the restart, Sunderland were soon two down and Gray applied the finish. This time he stayed on his feet despite a pull from Djilobodji before rounding Mannone and finding empty net.

Less than two minutes later he had a third too. Steven Pienaar, a half-time substitute, slipped over on the ball in his own half, the ball was played up to Barnes, who rolled in Gray to complete his hat-trick.

Burnley hadn’t finished. When Seb Larsson barged over Arfield in the box 24 minutes from time, Barnes grabbed the ball and sent Mannone the wrong way from the spot and it was a case of how many they could add.

Instead, though, Sunderland pulled one back. That might have been a surprise, but what wasn’t was who it was with to scorer Defoe beating Tom Heaton from close range after good work from Januzaj.

Sunderland rallied while Burnley took their foot off the gas, but there was not way back. The damage was done.

BURNLEY (4-4-1-1): Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd, Defour (Gudmundsson 67), Marney, Arfield; Barnes (Tarkowski 85); Gray (Vokes 78). Subs (not used): Robinson, Bamford, O'Neill, Darikwa.

SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Jones, Kone (Ndong 24), Djilobodji, van Aanholt; O'Shea (Love 72), Larsson; Januzaj, Borini, Anichebe (Pienaar 46); Defoe. Subs (not used): Mika (gk), Khazri, Rodwell, Manquillo.