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Sunderland easily maintained their unbeaten Premier League home record with a routine win against a Burnley side that failed to record a shot on target.
The Black Cats’ form has been difficult overall but the Stadium of Light remains a fortress.
And after Axel Tuanzebe’s own goal set them on their way, Chemsdin Talbi put the cherry on top of the cake with an absolute screamer before Habib Diarra wrapped up the win before the break.
Scott Parker’s visitors had more of the ball overall but were quite passive in attack and never looked like scoring.
Burnley are now 11 points clear of Nottingham Forest in 17th place and are assured of a return to the Championship.
The defeat left them 15 matches without a win in the league. In their top-flight history, only February 1889 to February 1890 have the Clarets ever endured a longer winless streak (19).
Sunderland, meanwhile, are eighth and just five points off the top four.
On his first start since returning from Africa Cup of Nations glory with Senegal, Diarra opened the scoring when his shot deflected off Tuanzebe.
Sunderland extended their lead with a powerful strike that was palmed into the bottom corner by Martin Dubravka.
Nordy Mukil then sent an unmarked low pass to Brian Broby, who mistimed the ball, but the hosts quickly recycled the effort and Talbi went to the edge of the box, unleashing a superb strike that skimmed under the crossbar and into the net.
