Sunderland safe as Toon drop

Sunderland secured their Premier League status with a 3-0 victory over Everton on Tuesday, relegating Newcastle and Norwich in the process.

Knowing victory at the Stadium of Light would guarantee top-flight football for another season, the Black Cats took control of their destiny in four devastating first-half minutes as Patrick van Aanholt (38) and Lamine Kone (42) saw them 2-0 ahead at the interval.

Kone added his second on 55 minutes to guarantee three points against an Everton side who, having been swept aside by champions Leicester on Saturday, rarely threatened to extend the race for survival to the final day of the season.

The result means Sunderland seal a tenth-successive season in the Premier League at the expense of their North-East rivals Newcastle, and Norwich, who drop into the Championship despite beating Watford 4-2.

The pressure riding on Wednesday’s game clearly effected the hosts early on as they frantically looked to exert themselves on the Toffees.

Such was their desire to employ a high pressing game that they were almost caught out as Matthew Pennington flashed a header wide on 13 minutes. And news of Norwich taking the lead against Watford added to …

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