Sunderland 3-0 Burnley: Diarra stars as Black Cats outclass hapless Clarets | OneFootball

Habib Diarra netted his first Premier League goal of the season as Sunderland cruised past Burnley 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.

The hosts took the lead after just eight minutes as Diarra’s shot was diverted into the back of his own net by Axel Tuanzebe, before the Senegalese midfielder opened his Premier League account in the 32nd minute.

Chemsdine Talbi inflicted further punishment on the Clarets with a stunning, curling goal to lift Sunderland up to eighth, leapfrogging rivals Newcastle in the process, while Burnley remain 11 points from safety.

As it happened

Habib Diarra was handed a first Premier League start in over a month as one of two Sunderland changes and the midfielder made an instant impact, with the Black Cats taking the lead in the ninth minute.

The Senegalese international burst beyond Brian Brobbey before seeing his effort fly past Martin Dúbravka, courtesy of a deflection off of Axel Tuanzebe.

The hosts settled into the game after the opener and missed a chance to double their advantage as Chemsdine Talbi couldn’t guide Nordi Mukiele’s cross on target.

Another dangerous Sunderland move saw Enzo Le Fee wrap an attempt at goal but it proved a textbook save for Dubravka.

There was no letting up from the home side though and they added a second just past the half hour mark. The ball dropped at the feet of Diarra who fired through the gloves of the Burnley ‘keeper and this time there was no doubt it would be his goal.

Brobbey threatened to add his name to the scoresheet in the 64th minute, drawing an impressive save from Dubravka before Mukiele flicked the rebound over.

Tempers flared as the visitors grew increasingly frustrated, with Dubravka and Trai Hume both cautioned for their parts in a 67th minute ruckus.

Talbi compounded the visitors’ misery five minutes later, as his gorgeous curling shot kissed the underside of the crossbar and rippled the top left corner of the net.

Burnley came closest to a consolation when Jaidon Anthony’s speculative effort deflected onto the top of the net, but the away side failed to register a shot on target all evening.

Hume nearly put the icing on the cake as he met Reinildo Mandava’s cross but Maxime Esteve was well-placed to thwart the Northern Irishman.

The victory sees Sunderland maintain their unbeaten Premier League record on home soil, whilst Burnley remain firmly inside the relegation zone.

Analysis: tale of the two seasons

Burnley supporters must be coming away from the Stadium of Light scratching their heads as to how this season, and potentially their Premier League status, has so quickly got away from them.

They finished 24 points in front of Sunderland last season and even secured a 2-0 win over them at Turf Moor on matchday two, yet the gap in quality this time around was night and day.

The Clarets were wasteful in possession, failing to work Robin Roefs in the Sunderland goal all evening and coming off second best in every area of the pitch. They were outfought, outplayed, outmuscled and outscored.

Criticism will be levelled at boss Scott Parker but their recruitment team should hardly be absolved of blame, failing to deliver a squad capable of truly competing in the top flight – a stark contrast from the work both Sunderland and Leeds did in the market.

It looks a long way back for Parker’s side if they are to finish above the dotted line, now 11 points from safety whilst both West Ham and Nottingham Forest have seemingly improved in recent weeks.

Their clash with the Hammers on Saturday is undeniably a must-win.