Match ends, Sunderland 1, Burton Albion 2.
Sunderland were relegated for the second season in succession after Liam Boyce's late header gave Burton Albion's survival hopes a huge lift.
Burton were a goal down with five minutes to play after Paddy McNair's low first-half strike.
Darren Bent scored against his old club to level from close range, and Boyce's goal silenced the home support.
The Black Cats had the ball in the net in injury time but it was ruled out and ended their Championship status.
Sunderland's tumble into the third tier caps a disastrous last two seasons on Wearside, having gone from 10 years of Premier League stability to slide into the third tier for the first time in 30 years.
Chris Coleman was brought to the club in November tasked with keeping the club in the Championship, inheriting a side bottom of the table with just one win.
Despite making improvements in terms of performances, the former Wales boss was unable to turn form around with just five league wins since his arrival.
The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light was strangely muted throughout this game, possibly as fans had eyes elsewhere on their rivals' fates and results had largely gone their way with Bolton and Barnsley both losing.
However, their late collapse has become something of a theme, with late goals costing them points against Reading, Norwich and Leeds in recent weeks that might have helped keep them in the division.
And defeat, coupled with the fact that Burton host fourth-from-bottom Bolton next Saturday, means that the Black Cats, with two games still to play, cannot bridge the six-point gap between them and safety.
Victory for Burton, who then travel to Preston on the final day, meant Nigel Clough's side have won back-to-back games now for only the third time this season.
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman told BBC Newcastle:
"We didn't play great, it was the first game in the last six weeks where we weren't very good when we were previously very good.
"Against Norwich, Leeds, Reading and now Burton, we've been leading deep into the game and we don't deal with it the way we should. We should be eight points better off.
"We haven't been good enough, I won't go into the situation with the ruled out goal, it was a mess, bit like ourselves across the season."
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
"It's about time one went in our favour. I'm delighted to get the three points, we deserved it on our second half performance and sad it means Sunderland are down but it gives us a glimmer of hope we can take it to the last two games.
"There was frustration, similar to a lot of a lot of away performances this season where we've played well enough but been unable to convert our superiority.
"The goal that was disallowed, absolutely adamant everyone around it that it was a blatant handball, that's why they reacted like they did if there had been any question at all about it, then I don't think you'd have seen any reaction and John Brayford as captain is entitled to speak to the referee and say come on talk to your assistant, they did that and came to the right decision.
"The lads said there was a definite arm that pushed it towards the line, which has resulted in the goal, as long as they've got it right I'm looking forward to seeing it."
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Steele
- 2Jones
- 23KonéSubstituted forClarke-Salterat 81'minutes
- 16O'Shea
- 36WilsonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMatthewsat 59'minutes
- 6CattermoleBooked at 90mins
- 13McManamanBooked at 59minsSubstituted forAsoroat 65'minutes
- 4McNairBooked at 74mins
- 26HoneymanBooked at 90mins
- 19McGeadyBooked at 90mins
- 9Fletcher
Substitutes
- 11Lua Lua
- 12Camp
- 20Maja
- 21Matthews
- 29Asoro
- 35Clarke-Salter
- 53Ejaria
Burton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Bywater
- 2Brayford
- 15Naylor
- 5McFadzean
- 14McCrorySubstituted forTurnerat 61'minutes
- 19DavenportBooked at 45mins
- 10Akins
- 7MurphySubstituted forSordellat 81'minutes
- 21Akpan
- 26SbarraSubstituted forBentat 73'minutes
- 27BoyceBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Allen
- 6Turner
- 9Bent
- 17Sordell
- 20Samuelsen
- 23Buxton
- 24Campbell
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 25,475
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away8
- Corners
- Home2
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away7
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Burton Albion 2.
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Booking
Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
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Booking
Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
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Post update
Hand ball by Paddy McNair (Sunderland).
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Jake Clarke-Salter (Sunderland) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Aiden McGeady with a cross.
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Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jacob Davenport.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Paddy McNair (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. John O'Shea (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joel Asoro.
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Booking
George Honeyman (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Foul by George Honeyman (Sunderland).
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Post update
Liam Boyce (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Booking
Liam Boyce (Burton Albion) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
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Goal!
Goal! Sunderland 1, Burton Albion 2. Liam Boyce (Burton Albion) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Turner with a cross.
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Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Aiden McGeady.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Darren Bent (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Marvin Sordell with a cross.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Jake Clarke-Salter (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Post update
John O'Shea (Sunderland) hits the bar with a header from very close range. Assisted by Aiden McGeady with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Post update
Paddy McNair (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Post update
Foul by Jacob Davenport (Burton Albion).
Comments
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From a Newcastle fan.
Should never have sacked Grayson , he would probably have got you promoted next season. His Bradford city team will be waiting for you.
Oh wait, it's Scumberland. So long Cheesy Chip lovers. I'll tell the Blyth Spartans club shop to stock up on Blue Pop cos we'll be playing you soon !
Can't wait for the Netflix fly on the wall show in the summer hahahahaha
All because of the primadonnas who take home vast sums can't kick a ball to save themselves.