With Brentford drawing at Liverpool and Brighton losing to Manchester United, Regis Le Bris' side jumped up to seventh and will play in Europe for the first time in 52 years.

Both sides fashioned early chances as Cole Palmer tested Robin Roefs four minutes in before Enzo Le Fee stung the palms of Robert Sanchez at the other end soon after.

Nordi Mukiele then fired wildly across goal, and Nilson Angulo almost punished an error by Jorrel Hato as Sunderland ramped up the pressure, and their persistence was rewarded in the 25th minute by an unlikely source. 

A long punt upfield from Roefs was flicked on by Luke O'Nien for Trai Hume to volley in at the near post, with visiting goalkeeper Sanchez caught on his toes for the opener. 

Brian Brobbey then spurned a glorious opportunity to double Sunderland's lead 54 seconds after the restart, but he played a big part in the Black Cats' second five minutes into the second half when his scuffed attempt was turned into the net by Malo Gusto's outstretched leg. 

However, Chelsea halved the deficit almost immediately through Palmer, whose shot from the edge of the box somehow evaded Roefs' grasp, but the visitor's hopes of a comeback were all but ended in the 62nd minute. 

Wesley Fofana received his second booking for pulling back Wilson Isidor, but even with a man down, Chelsea pushed for a leveller that ultimately never came as the full-time whistle was greeted by cheers of euphoria on Wearside.