Sunderland 0 – 5 Nottingham Forest: Clinical Forest hit four in first-half

Sunderland gave the ball away again on 11 minutes as Omar Alderete’s pass was intercepted by Omari Hutchinson but his curling effort was parried away by Robin Roefs.

The hosts had another chance after 12 minutes as Ballard did well to win the ball back in the Forest half. He worked his way into the box and towards the by-line before delivering a cross that narrowly evaded Brian Brobbey.

The visitors broke the deadlock as Hutchinson received the ball back from a short corner. He swung in a cross to the back post that was met by the head of Jesus. Unfortunately for Hume, the ball bounced unknowingly off his head and ended up nestling in the Sunderland net.

Forest added another soon after. Wood got a crucial touch to divert Roefs’ pass into the path of Gibbs-White, who duly returned the ball to his striker. With the home keeper bearing down on him, the Kiwi kept his cool to slide home.

Jesus was found at the back post again but this time his knock-down found Gibbs-White, who inflicted further damage by firing a half-volley through a crowd of players.

Sunderland’s nightmare of a first half was compounded when Jesus was left alone once again at the back post to add a fourth after Ola Aina’s deflected shot broke his way.

Sunderland started the second half slightly brighter but failed to create any chances. The best chance they could fashion in the first 15 minutes came with Alderete failing to trouble Sels from the edge of the area after Granit Xhaka had found him with a forward ball.

That was until Xhaka delivered a free-kick into Nordi Mukiele, whose shot was initially saved by Sels. Ballard thought he had scored on the follow-up but after a lengthy VAR delay, it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper with Mukiele’s momentum taking him into Sels.

With a comfortable lead, the visitors were happy to sit back and soak up lacklustre Sunderland pressure, who never really looked like breaching the Forest goal.

Boyhood Newcastle fan rounded off a special night for Forest as he swept past Roefs in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Forest hitting form at the right time.

The result puts Forest eight points clear of the relegation zone and extends their unbeaten streak to eight games in all competitions.

Morgan Gibbs-White is also finding his form at the right time as another goal gave him his seventh in the same number of games and gives Thomas Tuchel further selection problems.

It looks like their fourth manager of the season is finally getting a tune out of this squad as they march towards another season of Premier League football.

Sunderland finally collapsing?

At the start of the season, it was common consensus that the Black Cats would have a difficult period at some point. Just two losses may not be enough to say that has come, but conceding eight goals in 135 minutes of football is a sign that it may be their time.

Yet, a wobble at the end of the season will not be a drastic cause of concern for supporters, with their Premier League status safe and two wins over Newcastle in their first campaign back in the top-flight.

The Mackem faithful were in fine voice throughout most of the game and despite the obvious groans and moans when your team is 4-0 down, chants of ‘six points again ole ole ole’ directed at Anderson reflect that when all is said and done, this season has been a success.