Burnley 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland leap frogged Wigan with victory at Burnley

Sunderland went three points clear at the top of the Championship after beating 10-man Burnley at Turf Moor.

Liam Lawrence scored the opener on 26 minutes when he headed in at the back post after Sean Thornton's corner.

Jeff Whitley almost grabbed a second on 77 minutes, but his curling shot was well-saved by Brian Jensen.

Substitute Ade Akinbiyi was dismissed for violent conduct two minutes into his debut before Marcus Stewart sealed the win with a close-range shot.

---

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill:
"Ade should have been sent off. I can't defend him and I asked if he had anything to say to the players.

"We decided to play a bit in the second half. In the first half we didn't and we looked awfully sloppy and tired.

"I got into them a bit at half-time and they needed that. I feel desperately disappointed as we just didn't play."

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy:
"We're top and it's nice but more than that it was a good performance. Burnley is a difficult place to come and play.

"We played very well in the first half, they changed to 4-4-2 in the second half and made it harder.

"But it was a great victory and we played good football."

---

Burnley: Jensen, Duff (Akinbiyi 80), Cahill, Sinclair, Camara, Valois, Grant (Roche 45), Hyde, Branch, Whittingham, Moore. Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pilkington, Scott.

Sent Off: Akinbiyi (83).

Booked: Roche.

Sunderland: Myhre, Whitehead, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Lawrence, Whitley, Robinson, Thornton (Welsh 71), Bridges (Brown 85), Stewart. Subs Not Used: Neill Collins, Alnwick, Danny Collins.

Booked: Caldwell.

Goals: Lawrence 26, Stewart 89.

Att: 12,103

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).