Sunderland beat a dismal Everton 3-0 to ensure their Premier League survival and condemn Norwich and Newcastle to Championship football next season.

Sam Allardyce’s men welcomed a woefully out-of-form Everton in the knowledge that victory would ensure their status as a Premier League club with a game to spare and set about the visitors with real vigour.

They had to wait until the 38th minute to take the lead, when Patrick van Aanholt fired home a free-kick. However, Lamine Kone sent the hosts to the interval with a two-goal advantage when he volleyed past Joel Robles with 42 minutes gone before adding a third following more lamentable Everton defending after the break.

The result rendered Norwich’s 4-2 win over Watford academic with Sunderland now holding a four-point advantage over Norwich and Newcastle with one round of fixtures remaining.

The nerves were palpable around the Stadium of Light from the off, but the intensity from the hosts was just what the doctor ordered, with Lee Cattermole ensuring his team-mates were chasing everything down.

Neither side were creating any real openings, as Sunderland's rivals 15 miles up the road could sense that all may not be lost in their battle for survival. However, Joel Robles and the meekest of defensive walls allowed Van Aanholt to open the scoring from a free-kick, sending all of Wearside into raptures.

Then, four minutes later, Kone chose the perfect time to open his Sunderland account by lashing home a close-range volley to double his side’s lead. In the driving seat, Sunderland enjoyed themselves in the second half, with Kone again helping himself to a goal after Robles had dealt with a Wahbi Khazri corner poorly.

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