Sunderland solidified their spot in the Championship playoffs with a dominant away win against struggling Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night. 

Tony Mowbray's side arrived at Hillsborough in a confident mood despite their 1-0 loss to Cardiff City last time out, while the hosts have endured a woeful start to the new season, with just two points to their name. 

The Black Cats were always favourites for the game live on Sky Sports but the manner and style of their dominant 3-0 victory, with all the goals coming in the first half, was extremely impressive. 

Sunderland were 2-0 up within eight minutes after Dan Ballard's header and Jack Clarke's wonderful curled finish, before Clarke added another from the penalty spot. 

It was game over at half-time and as a result, the second half was something of a non-event, as the hosts failed to threaten.

Mowbray made one change from the side that started last time out, as Patrick Roberts came in for Abdoullah Ba on the right-hand side. 

Sunderland started like a house on fire and took the lead on five minutes, as Alex Pritchard's corner found an unmarked Ballard, and he headed home to make it 1-0. 

Three minutes later and it was two, with the raucous home crowd booing their team as Clarke was allowed to cut inside before curling into the bottom corner. 

The former Tottenham Hotspur winger would heap the pressure onto Sheffield Wednesday boss Xisco with his seventh of the season on 31 minutes after Bambo Diaby pulled down Mason Burstow following a superb piece of skill from the Chelsea loanee. 

Jobe Bellingham and Roberts both came close to adding a fourth in the second period but Sunderland were more than content with three goals and three points, which sees them move up to fourth in the league table.

Only Norwich City have scored more than Sunderland, while Clarke is now the league's top scorer, and with four wins from five, the future is looking extremely bright at the Stadium of Light. 

The Black Cats face Watford in their next game at home on Wednesday evening.