Sunderland’s unbeaten home run gathered fresh momentum as a dominant 3-0 victory over Burnley at the Stadium of Light underlined the growing influence of two African players and tightened the race in the Premier League’s middle ground.
Against opponents struggling for confidence, the Black Cats delivered a controlled and clinical performance that rarely allowed Burnley to settle.
From the opening stages, Sunderland set the tempo, pressing high and forcing errors, with the hosts taking a decisive grip on the contest inside the first 10 minutes.
The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute after sustained pressure led to a costly mistake in Burnley’s back line.
Habib Diarra was at the heart of the move, closing down Axel Tuanzebe before the ball was worked to Brian Brobbey, whose hold-up play proved pivotal.
Diarra’s right-footed effort took a deflection off a defender and crossed the line for what was officially recorded as an own goal.
Although the opener went down as a Burnley error, it reflected Sunderland’s early dominance.
Diarra continued to trouble the visitors and was rewarded midway through the first half with a goal that removed any doubt about his contribution.
After a cutback from Nordi Mukiele and despite Florentino’s attempt to intervene, the ball broke kindly for the Senegalese player.
His powerful strike beat Martin Dubravka, who managed only a partial touch.
The goal marked Diarra’s first for Sunderland, a notable moment for a player whose performances had previously gone unrewarded in front of goal.
The second half delivered the standout moment of the match.
Introduced from the bench, Moroccan forward Chemsdine Talbi brought the contest to a decisive close with a spectacular finish.
Cutting in from the left, he unleashed a curling effort from around 20 metres that struck the crossbar before dropping into the far corner, a goal that silenced any lingering Burnley resistance.
For Burnley, the defeat deepened an alarming run of form.
They failed to register a single shot on target for the fourth time this season, extending a winless sequence to 15 league matches, their longest since 1890.
Frustration spilled over late on, with Dubravka booked following an altercation with Trai Hume amid jeers from the stands.
The result lifts Sunderland from 11th to eighth in the table, moving them above Newcastle, Everton and Fulham.
Attention now turns to a demanding away trip to Arsenal next weekend, while Burnley face mounting pressure as they prepare for a crucial encounter with West Ham in their fight to avoid relegation.
