SUNDERLAND'S automatic promotion hopes look over despite watching Charlie Wyke take his goalscoring tally to 30 with a double against Accrington.

The Black Cats are now nine points behind second placed Peterborough with three matches remaining after their winless run was extended to six matches having let the lead go twice.

Sunderland were in command early on with Wyke’s brace but Accrington made a fight of it after the restart.

Colby Bishop pulled one back five minutes in before Accrington, who sit six points off sixth place, were given a first equaliser when Luke O’Nien headed into his own net.

Even though Max Power put Sunderland ahead again with seven minutes left, Accrington earned a deserved point when Sean McConville hit a brilliant free-kick with five minutes left.

Sunderland went ahead in the sixth minute when Wyke rose highest in the area to direct Lynden Gooch’s cross back and beyond Accrington goalkeeper Toby Savin.

His 30th of the season followed five minutes later when he moved ahead of his marker to turn Aiden McGeady’s fine run and cross inside the near post.   

But Bishop applied the low finish after Dion Charles had rolled him in at the start of the second half to give the visitors hope.

Accrington levelled with 22 minutes left when O’Nien’s attempted header back to the goalkeeper missed Lee Burge and bounced in.

With five minutes remaining Jack Diamond rolled in Power and the captain looked to have sealed much-needed points for Sunderland.

But Accrington responded once more when McConville’s incredible free-kick made its way inside Burge’s near post.