Sunderland have beaten Everton 3-0 to preserve their Premier League status for the 2016/17 season.

The Black Cats dominated proceedings at the Stadium of Light, producing a result that sees them avoid relegation, while sending Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle United as well as Norwich City back to the Championship.

The opening goal came on 38 minutes when left-back Patrick van Aanholt bent a lovely effort through the wall from a free-kick, completely wrong footing Joel Robles, and igniting the home fans.

Just four minutes later and it was bedlam when the Toffees failed to clear their lines resulting in Lamine Kone lashing Yann M'Vila's header into the roof of the net with his left foot.

10 minutes into the second half and it was game, set and match to Sam Allardyce's men when Wahbi Khazri's swinging corner was kept out by Joel but fell kindly for centre-back Kone to sweep home unmarked.

The victory sees Sunderland move four points ahead of the Magpies and the Canaries with just one match to play, has sealed the fate of those two clubs who will now battle it out in England's fiercely competitive second tier next term.

Norwich beat Watford 4-2 at Carrow Road but the Sunderland win makes that result basically null and void as there is now no way back for Alex Neil's side.