Goals from Bryan Hughes and a first for the club from Christophe Dugarry ensured that Mick McCarthy's new charges would be plying their trade below the Premiership next campaign, whilst Steve Bruce's men have now got to be fancied to retain their top-flight status for another season.
Bruce was dealt an injury blow when the versatile Damien Johnson was declared unfit for this game. The Blues boss sprung something of a surprise by opting for apparently out-of-favour Hughes to play alongside Stephen Clemence at the heart of midfield. Stan Lazaridis also returned from injury for Stern John, to allow Dugarry to move back up front alongside Geoff Horsfield.
Sunderland knew that defeat would mean relegation, and started the game the brighter of the two teams, with Marcus Stewart and Kevin Phillips foraging from the knock-downs of the Niall Quinn-esque Kevin Kyle in a three-pronged attack. The visitors failed to really create any clearcut chances, however, with crosses from both Phillips and the influential Sean Thornton eluding their frontmen. At the other end, a Dugarry header was going just wide before Clemence attempted to steer it in, but he himself failed to hit the target.
Lazaridis had been magnificent in Blues 1-0 vistory at The Stadium of Light earlier in the season, and this obviously played on Blues minds as they attempted to shift the ball left to him on as many occasions as possible, with the Australian sometimes frustrating and sometimes creating - as he always does. On the opposite flank, Paul Devlin was once again highly ineffective, and appears to have been found out at this level now.
Blues took the lead just 2 minutes prior to the interval through the recalled Hughes. Dugarry contested a Jamie Clapham cross with Sunderland 'keeper Mart Poom, and the Estonian International was only able to punch the ball clear to Hughes. The former Wrexham man then showed the class that everyone knows he has, but everyone rarely sees, by executing a sublime lob with the deftest of touches straight back over Poom's head into the back of the net.
Sunderland again started the second half well, as they needed to, but were unable to test the returning Ian Bennett in the Blues goal. At the other end, Blues were struggling to break down the visitors rearguard, until the hour mark. Following a Blues free-kick, the ball looped to Dugarry at the far post, who saw the advancing Poom and carefully placed a stooping header past him into the far corner. Dugarry's first goal for the club led to joyous scenes around St Andrews, with the player in particular not hiding his delight as he celebrated in front of the Tilton before hugging Steve Bruce on the touchline.
Sunderland's visiting fans (of which there were about 800 - fair play to those who travelled, but a season of struggle really sorts out the genuinely well-supported clubs from those who get big crowds for just a couple of seasons of false promise) began to almost celebrate their relegation, and let's face it, it had been inevitable for months. Meanwhile, their team began to defend like a First Division side, and Blues should really have scored more as Lazaridis, Horsfield, Devlin, Dugarry and later John (who had replaced Dugarry following an incredible ovation for the Frenchman) surged forwards time and again, but never made anything count.
Sunderland's miserable day was completed when Marcus Stewart was rightly shown a straight red-card in the 86th minute for a vicious tackle on John.
Whilst the result and it's consequences were really a foregone conclusion for the visitors, for Blues, this was a monumental three points. For the first time in a month, Blues picked up points as others dropped points, and they have really put themselves in a position now that looks to be as strong as it has ever been. In saying that, it was a poor performance on the whole, with Clemence and Devlin in particular looking worryingly bad. Robbie Savage's return (here's hoping) at The Valley next week though should buck up a few ideas. It's important to remember going to Charlton that the job is nowhere near done, but it's one step closer.
As for Sunderland, well, it was good for the Blues fans to applaud the Sunderland fans at the end of the game, and in truth, a ground like the Stadium of Light deserves Premiership football. With a mass exodus of players due over the summer though, it remains to be seen whether Mick McCarthy will be able to return the stadium (as oppose to the club) to it's rightful place. Blues though, should be mixing with Sunderland's neighbours Newcastle and Middlesbrough once again next season.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Bennett - Another clean sheet
Kenna - One of his poorer games
Clapham - Decent distribution, but lacking defensively
Upson - Superb
Cunningham - Excellent, as always
Devlin - Struggled
Clemence - Worst display in Blues shirt
Hughes - Grew into the game after goal, and played well
Lazaridis - Usual self, one minute flying, the next frustrating
Dugarry - Possibly his quietest game, but scored
Horsfield - Worked hard, but lacks a footballing brain at times (eg. Offsides)
SUBS:
John - Worked well
Carter - Reasonable
Kirovski - A little lost on the right, but ok