Sunderland eased to a comfortable win over struggling Burnley, extending the visitors’ winless run in the Premier League to 15 matches.
The game was effectively settled early when Habib Diarra’s shot deflected off Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe to give Sunderland a ninth-minute lead. From then on, the hosts were in control.
Sunderland made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when Diarra finished a flowing move, with Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka unable to keep out the low effort. The home side’s dominance continued and Chemsdine Talbi capped an impressive performance with a brilliant long-range goal into the top corner.
The win stretched Sunderland’s unbeaten home run to 12 games, the best start at home by a newly promoted Premier League side since Nottingham Forest in 1977-78. It also lifted the Black Cats to eighth in the table, just five points off the top four.
Burnley remain second from bottom and 11 points from safety, having not won a league match since 26 October.
