Sunderland emphatically came out on top in this afternoon's Premier League basement battle against Norwich City to throw the race to beat the drop wide open.

The Black Cats started the match four points behind the Canaries but have closed the gap to one – and still with a game in hand – thanks to goals from Fabio Borini, Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore.

Both sides were really up for the challenge from the off and even Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce had his feathers ruffled in the early stages when he got involved in a touchline confrontation with the Norwich bench.

It was the home side doing most of the early pressing, but Vito Mannone was not caused any real problems and Sunderland themselves then went close as Fabio Borini fired across the face of goal.

Norwich soon resumed their dominance and this time Mannone was really tested on a couple of occasions. First he reacted well to ensure that Younes Kaboul's sliced clearance did not turn into an own goal before tipping Martin Olsson's fierce volley over.

Five minutes before the break Sunderland went in front from the penalty spot as Borini tucked home after Andre Wisdom planted his studs into the Italian's ankle. There was slight contact with the ball, but the right-back went over the ball and Andre Marriner pointed to the spot.

Norwich boss Alex Neil decided to make a change at half time and it almost paid off as Nathan Redmond drilled a low effort against the post shortly after the resumption.

However, it was Sunderland celebrating minutes later. Jan Kirchhoff stole the ball from Sebastien Bassong and then fed Borini down the right. He looked up and picked out Defoe in the middle to stab home from close range for his 10th goal in 14 away league appearances this season.

Falling two behind meant that Norwich had to push forward and Sunderland looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but Duncan Watmore failed to make one particularly good chance on the break count.

Shortly after the hour mark Norwich had the ball cleared off the line three times in the space of two minutes, with Dieumerci Mbokani denied twice and Wes Hoolahan also kept out.

That was as good as it got for the Canaries and it turned into a six-goal swing between the two sides late on as Watmore squeezed a shot under Ruddy to put the icing on the cake for Sunderland.