Goals from Connor Wickham and Jermain Defoe have given Sunderland a 2-0 half-time lead over Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
Both sides looked to attack in the opening few minutes, and George Boyd should have done better with a precise Kieran Trippier cross before Defoe saw his shot deflected behind for a corner.
Wickham then thought that he had put his side ahead after 12 minutes, but the referee blew his whistle for a foul in the build-up before the striker found the back of the net.
Burnley were almost handed the lead when Costel Pantilimon dropped the ball at the feet of David Jones, but the giant goalkeeper recovered to save his shot.
Ashley Barnes then nodded wide of the target at the far post and within a couple of minutes the home side took the lead.
Anthony Reveillere sent a teasing cross into the box which Wickham attacked to send a firm header into the back of the net.
Boyd was then denied by a sprawling Pantilimon save, but just as Barnes was punished by Wickham, Defoe made the midfielder pay with a poacher's finish from six yards out to put the Black Cats 2-0 up.
