Sunderland push Burnley nearer drop

Sunderland moved Burnley closer to relegation from the English Premier League with a 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Black Cats bossed the match in the early stages and their pressure was rewarded with Frazier Campbell’s 25th minute goal before Darren Bent doubled their advantage five minutes before the break.

Burnley pulled a goal back eight minutes from time with Steven Thompson’s 25-yard drive but it was all too little too late for the Clarets, second from bottom and seemingly on their way to an immediate return to the Championship.

The Lancashire side are four points from safety and have played a game more than fellow strugglers Hull, West Ham and Wigan.

They have a testing run-in, with games against Liverpool, Birmingham and Tottenham Hotspur to come.

With the game still goalless, Brian Jensen made a double save to deny Sunderland’s John Mensah and Michael Turner and home striker Kenwyne Jones hit the post.

But Sunderland got the goal they’d been threatening when Bent held the ball up for former Tottenham colleague Alan Hutton, on loan from White Hart Lane, who crossed for Campbell to finish from close range.

And they were deservedly 2-0 up when David Meyle’s chip found Campbell and the forward stretched to head the ball into the path of fellow striker Bent, who struck a left-foot volley past Jensen.

Burnley rallied after the break, with Graham Alexander testing Sunderland and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, before substitute Thompson struck.