Ex-Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham has insisted that the club's January transfer business was "key" in their successful Premier League survival bid.
Tonight's 3-0 win over Everton secured their top-flight status and consequently relegated bitter rivals Newcastle United and Norwich City.
Higginbotham believes that it was the winter additions of Jan Kirchhoff, Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri that ultimately made the difference.
Sunderland's season will conclude with an away match at Watford on Sunday afternoon.
