Ex-Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham has insisted that the club's January transfer business was "key" in their successful Premier League survival bid.

Tonight's 3-0 win over Everton secured their top-flight status and consequently relegated bitter rivals Newcastle United and Norwich City.

Higginbotham believes that it was the winter additions of Jan Kirchhoff, Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri that ultimately made the difference.

Key 4 @SunderlandAFC was the Jan signings. Bought what was needed. The likes of Newcastle bought good players but not ones needed at time

— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) May 11, 2016