Crewe Alexandra 0-4 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland earned their second away league win in four days as they cruised to victory against Crewe Alexandra at the Mornflake Stadium.
A Terrell Thomas own goal and a Ross Stewart header in the first half ensured the Lads had a cushion for the second half.
Stewart got on the scoresheet again in the second half and substitute Leon Dajaku sealed the win for the Black Cats.
Sunderland’s first chance came through an Alex Pritchard corner, and Tom Flanagan met the cross with a header, forcing a save from William Jaaskelainen.
It was Pritchard’s turn next after a driving run through the middle from Aiden O’Brien, and he laid off Pritchard, but his shot forced a good save from the goalkeeper.
Crewe alleviated Sunderland pressure and had their share of possession early in the first half, with chances from J’Neil Bennett, Scott Robertson and Kane Ramsay, but none troubled Thorben Hoffmann.
Aiden McGeady found space down the left side after beating his man, and whipped in a left-footed cross for O’Brien, but his shot was thwarted by Jaaskelainen and Crewe managed to clear.
Lee Johnson’s side found the breakthrough 24 minutes in after Stewart teed up Pritchard on the wing, and his cross fell to Crewe centre half Thomas, who sliced the ball into his own net.
The Black Cats doubled their lead through exceptional inter-play down the right side from Neil, Pritchard and O’Brien, and Neil was released behind the defensive line, chipping a cross to the back post for Stewart to head home his eighth league goal of the season.
O’Brien managed to get into a good position at the back post again and met another McGeady cross, but his first-time shot sailed over the bar in the 39th minute.
Stewart scored the third goal of the evening when Pritchard’s corner was swooped in towards the far post, and the striker arrived to plant the ball past Jaaskelainen to claim his second of the night.
Hoffmann was called into action shortly after the third goal after Mikael Mandron got in behind and poked his shot towards goal, but the goalkeeper tipped it around the far post.
A fantastic counter attack saw Sunderland catching Crewe up the pitch, and Dajaku was released by McGeady, using his speed to get away from his marker and fired a left-footed strike to the front post past the keeper.
Sunderland managed the game well after the fourth goal to hold onto the clean sheet, with the Lads in full confidence from two away victories as they prepare to host Charlton on Saturday on Wearside.
Sunderland AFC: Hoffmann, Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin (Hume), O’Nien, Neil, McGeady © (Wright), Pritchard (Dajaku), O’Brien, Stewart
Subs not used: Burge, Younger, Harris, Wearne.
Crewe Alexandra: Jaaskelainen, Ramsay, Thomas (Sass-Davies), Offord, Long (Kashket), Mandron, McFadzean, Murphy, Daniels, Robertson, Bennett (Gomes)
Subs not used: Richards, Adebisi, Porter, Finney