CHARLIE WYKE'S first half hat-trick fired Sunderland back into top six to help secure a 4-1 win over promotion rivals Doncaster at the Stadium of Light.

The in-form striker took his tally to 21 goals in all competitions with the first half triple and a fourth after the restart, all created by team-mate Aiden McGeady, to deliver a much-needed three points for the Black Cats.

After Jon Taylor, who had one of two second half penalties saved by Lee Burge, had threatened to open the scoring for Rovers early on, Sunderland took the lead and never looked back.

The first arrived in the seventh minute when McGeady’s corner arrived in the area for Wyke to nod down and inside Ellery Balcombe’s bottom right corner.

Five minutes later it was two. This time McGeady got beyond his marker to cross for Wyke again to head in.

And with 31 minutes on the clock the same combination added the third.

This time McGeady cut back, did a little trick and centred where Wyke was on hand to claim his 20th goal of the campaign.

McGeady and Lynden Gooch had chances to add to the lead before the break.

After Burge had helped Taylor Richards’ effort that hit the post over the line seven minutes after the break, Wyke headed in number four less than minute later.

Burge then denied Taylor and Jason Lokilo from the penalty spot, with Sunderland doing enough to move up to sixth.