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Diarra and Talbi inspire Sunderland as Burnley brushed aside to climb into eighth
Sunderland underlined their growing confidence at the Stadium of Light with a polished 3-0 victory over Burnley, extending the Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten home record to 12 matches and lifting Régis Le Bris’ side into eighth place.
Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi were the standout figures on a comfortable afternoon for the Black Cats, both returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty and immediately reminding supporters what had been missing. Burnley, by contrast, looked a side running out of answers, their winless run stretching to 15 games as they remain rooted in 19th.
The breakthrough arrived after nine minutes and owed much to Diarra’s enterprise. Linking neatly with Brian Brobbey, the midfielder drove into space and fired goalwards, Axel Tuanzebe inadvertently diverting the ball past his own goalkeeper. It was officially recorded as an own goal, but the warning had been clear.
Diarra ensured there would be no debate just after the half-hour. When Nordi Mukiele’s cross deflected kindly into his path, he swept a firm finish beyond Martin Dúbravka, who will feel he should have done better. Sunderland were in full control.
Scott Parker attempted to change the pattern with second-half substitutions, yet Burnley never threatened to re-enter the contest. Dubravka did at least deny Brobbey with a fine save, but the third goal felt inevitable and arrived in style. Talbi dropped his shoulder, cut in from the left and curled a superb strike in off the underside of the bar to put the gloss on an authoritative display.
Granit Xhaka’s absence through injury was scarcely felt as Sunderland dominated territory, tempo and chances, their supporters again leaving without witnessing a league defeat this season. Tougher tests lie ahead, but confidence is building.
Le Bris said: “It was important to react because we were really disappointed after West Ham. No energy, we were not Sunderland. Today it was important to show at least our way of playing with intensity, with bravery, with the ability to press high and create chances. This answer is really important because in the Premier League it is not easy to win games.”
Parker was far less upbeat: “We were just nowhere near it really… We looked like a childish team that had no intent about us today.”
For Burnley, hope of survival is fading fast.
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