The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half time when Jermain Defoe found the top corner with a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite some pressure from Newcastle towards the end of the game, the Black Cats were deserved winners come the final whistle.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two sides at the Stadium of Light.

Match statistics

SUNDERLAND
Shots: 16
On target: 4
Possession: 53%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 14

NEWCASTLE
Shots: 10
On target: 1
Possession: 47%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 18

Was the result fair?

Despite there being just one goal in it, Sunderland were worthy winners in the end. The hosts always looked hungrier for the points, while Newcastle struggled to get going all afternoon. Some better finishing could have seen the Black Cats run out with a more emphatic victory.

Sunderland's performance

Dick Advocaat's side were dominant from the first whistle to the last. They remained solid in defence (not that they had too much to do), while there were plenty of hard-working performances to be found in midfield and attack. This was the display of a team fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table. Their tempo and intensity stayed at a high level throughout and they rarely gave Newcastle a chance to get comfortable in the game.

In terms of the negative points, some poor finishing and decision-making up front could have cost them, but they were not made to pay for their wastefulness. One swallow does not make a summer, though this result is likely to give the players a huge confidence boost heading into the nervy final few weeks of the season.

Newcastle's performance

The Magpies were abysmal in the first half and showed only small signs of improvement after the break. John Carver spoke before the game about how his players would run themselves into the ground at the Stadium of Light, but this kind of display was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Newcastle looked overwhelmed and nervy, while they also lacked discipline and showed hardly any attacking intent for the majority of the encounter. Only in the final five minutes did they come alive up front. With just nine points separating them from the bottom three, the Tynesiders need to pull their socks up if they want to avoid a bad end to the season.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Patrick van Aanholt: The Sunderland left-back was a dynamic force at both ends of the pitch, but he particularly excelled in attack when he bombed down the flank and provided his teammates with some good crosses. His determination was emblematic of the home side's desire to win.

Biggest gaffe

Ayoze Perez had a glorious chance to bag Newcastle a share of the spoils towards the end of the game, but the young forward volleyed over from eight yards following a corner. The look on his face said it all: for a player of his ability, he really should have buried the ball in the back of the net.

Referee performance

Mike Dean was his usual disciplined self. The game became more of a stop-start affair as it went on, but this was not the official's fault. Dean was given little choice to blow up repeatedly for fouls as both sides struggled to keep control.

What next?

Sunderland: The Black Cats continue their fight for Premier League survival on April 11 when they host Crystal Palace.

Newcastle: The Magpies are back in action on April 13 as they make the trip to Liverpool in the Premier League.