Sunderland's survival battle remains on after their impressive victory over Cardiff City today.

The result sees the Black Cats move out of the dropzone on goal difference - for the moment.

Connor Wickham set Sunderland on their way, nodding home midway through the first-half after Cardiff's defence allowed the ball to bounce inside their penalty area.

The game was taken away from the visitors on the brink of halftime, after Sunderland were awarded a penalty for Juan Cala's clumsy foul on Wickham. The Spaniard was sent off for his tug on the striker's shirt.

Fabio Borini stepped up and converted the spotkick to send Sunderland into the break 2-0 ahead.

Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer threw on Wilfried Zaha for the second-half as he tried to chase the game. But Sunderland made their numerical advantage pay, controlling the half and keeping Cardiff's attack at arm's length.

And Emanuele Giaccherini came off the bench to put the game beyond doubt 15 minutes from time. Borini's clever inside ball played in his fellow Italian, who finished clinically past Cardiff keeper David Marshall for Sunderland's third goal.

Wickham grabbed his second goal of the game five minutes from time with a powerful header past Marshall. The centre-forward took advantage of slack Cardiff marking from a Giaccherini corner to power home.