Sunderland Hammer Cardiff City

Sunderland thrashed Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light this afternoon and in doing so lifted themselves out of the bottom three at a crucial time.

The Black Cats made the move from bottom of the table to 17th place, pushing Cardiff to the bottom and Norwich into the drop zone, albeit on goal difference, but Sunderland have a game in hand.

Sunderland started on the offensive from the off, forcing a succession of corners while at the other end Cardiff looked to want to get forward but didn’t give the home side any hassle.

The early stages of the game saw Cardiff successfully defend a succession of balls into their box and half-chances for the hosts.

Sunderland took the lead in the in the 26th minute when Sebastian Larsson sent in a corner that traveled across the face of the Cardiff goal to Wickham, who expertly headed an effort past Marshall and several defenders.

Then Steven Caulker was on hand to block a goal bound effort from Wickham when he let fly from 15 yards, soon after Jack Colback fired an effort just wide of the post.

Then as the final minute of the first half was upon us Wickham got himself onto a poor back pass and went through on goal but Cala stopped him unfairly and the referee pointed to the spot. Borini stepped up after the arguments had died down and he fired the ball into the bottom corner.

Into the second half and Cardiff should have pulled a goal back through Jordon Mutch when he headed a corner from Peter Whittingham wide of the post. Then Vito Mannone was called upon to make a fine stop from Whittingham.

At the other end, Colback found Borini, and his point-blank effort was blocked by Marshall.

Borini then played a well-weighted pass in behind the back-line and Giaccherini, put the ball through an advancing Marshall’s legs.

Then late on Wickham added a fourth who held off Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s attentions to head home Giaccherini`s corner.