Goals:

1-0: Wickham (20, rose unmarked at the back post to power a header from Reveillere’s cross beyond Heaton)

2-0: Defoe (34, tapped over the line after he was picked out superbly by van Aanholt)

Bookings: Johnson (69, foul); Larsson (88, foul); Marney (90, unprofessional behaviour); Pantilimon (90, unprofessional behaviour)

Referee: Lee Mason (Stockport) – should have allowed Wickham’s earlier goal and had an otherwise pretty straightforward afternoon. 6

Attendance: 44,022

Entertainment: PP

Sund Burn

Shots on: 3 4

Shots off: 5 9

Corners: 6 3

Offsides: 2 2

Fouls: 12 12

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):

6 Pantilimon: Distribution was suspect but was a safe pair of hands at the back;

7 Reveillere: Vindicated the decision to start at right-back by teeing up Wickham’s opener

6 Vergini: Not tested as much as he would have thought and was reliable

7 O'Shea: Kept Ings and the rest of the Burnley attack at bay for most of the game

8 VAN AANHOLT: The Dutchman displayed all the attacking intent from full-back which will be required to score goals;

6 Bridcutt: Kept things ticking over in the middle to give Sunderland a base to work from;

7 Wickham: Impressed defensively out wide but joined in with the attacks effectively to get his goal

6 Gomez: A better display from the Spaniard which helped van Aanholt attack down the flanks

6 Larsson: Not as effective as he has been at other times this season but still performed well enough through the middle;

6 Johnson: Has had better days but still put the work-rate in and will be a key-man for the remainder of the season;

7 Defoe: Timed his run to perfection to turn in van Aanholt’s cross from the byline

Subs:

Fletcher (for Defoe 75)

Graham (for Wickham 76)

Alvarez (for Johnson 86)

(not used): Mannone (gk), Jones, Coates, Giaccherini.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton 5; Trippier 4, Shackell 5, Keane 6, Mee 5; Boyd 6 (Wallace 61, 5), Marney 5, JONES 7, Arfield 5; Barnes 6 (Vokes 76), Ings 4 ( Jutkiewicz 61, 5). Subs: Gilks (gk), Duff, Kightly, Reid.

MAN OF THE MATCH: PATRICK van Aanholt – joined in with the attacks to provide the deliveries in to the penalty area which Sunderland are desperate for.