Goals:

1-0: Vergini OG (12, took a wild swing at Schneiderlin’s hopeful flick in to the area and his effort beat Mannone);

2-0: Pelle (18, on hand to tap Davis’ cross over the line after Buckley’s pass from defence hit Larsson’s back to give Saints an opening)

3-0: Cork (37, timed his run to the back post perfectly to convert Tadic’s cross from the left despite Mannone’s weak attempts on the line)

4-0: Bridcutt OG (63, his attempted clearance only helped Pelle’s half saved shot over the line)

5-0: Pelle (69, ran on to Tadic’s pass and powered in a low drive after out pacing Vergini)

6-0: Tadic (78, Mannone’s awful kick dropped straight to the forward and he coolly curled a finish around the keeper in to an empty net)

7-0: Wanyama (79, played a couple of wall passes before powering a finish beyond Mannone after Tadic’s pass inside)

8-0: Mane (86, cruised in to the area to side foot another beyond Mannone)

Bookings: Wickham (9, foul); Cattermole (27, foul); Schneiderlin (50, foul); Bridcutt (82, foul)

Referee: Andre Marriner (Walsall) – should have given a penalty when Forster tripped Fletcher, but he could not be blamed for the manner of this collapse. 4

Attendance: 29, 615

Entertainment: 4/5

Soton Sund

Shots on: 11 1

Shots off: 9 11

Corners: 5 6

Offsides: 2 1

Fouls: 11 8

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster 6; Clyne 8, Fonte 7, Alderweireld 7, Bertrand 7; Cork 8, Schneiderlin 8; TADIC 9, Davis 7 (Mane 65, 7), Long 6 (Wanyama 65, 7); Pelle 9 (Mayuka 80). Subs (not used): K Davis (gk), Yoshida, Gardos, Reed.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):

3 Mannone: Deserves an extra mark for fronting up but this was his worst display in a Sunderland shirt;

3 Vergini: Started woefully, hit a stunning own goal and never got to grips with Pele or Tadic

4 O’Shea: Given the runaround by the rampant Saints attack at the end of a memorable week with Ireland

4 Brown: Taken off for tactical reasons by all accounts and should be wondering why

4 Van Aanholt: Made a clearance off the line, otherwise it could have been nine;

4 Cattermole: Cautioned for a silly foul on Davis and struggled to get hold of the game despite a lovely pass for Fletcher, which should have earned a penalty;

3 Buckley: Well off the pace down the flanks and culpable for the Saints’ second goal

4 Gomez: Unable to make any sort of impact in the final third or in a defensive sense

5 LARSSON: Arguably Sunderland’s best performer even if he was replaced just after the hour

3 Wickham: Guilty of a couple of ridiculous passes which could have led to more goals and out of sorts on the left;

4 Fletcher: Should have had a penalty, although he should have scored the chance before the foul from Forster

Subs

Bridcutt (for Brown 46): Surely there was a better alternative to play right-back. 3

Rodwell (for Larsson 61): Hardly seemed to touch the ball after his introduction. 4

Johnson (for Gomez 61): Will hope to be involved from the start against Arsenal this weekend. 4

(not used): Pantilimon (gk), Mavrias, Graham, Cabral.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DUSAN Tadic – four assists and one goal is not a bad return as his blistering start to life in the Premier League continued.