ON the day that Wearside paid its respects to Ian Porterfield, Sunderland's players produced the most fitting tribute of all.

The club's best display of the season was easily too much for a Reading side that look certain to be involved in the relegation shake-up next May, and meant that Porterfield's FA Cup-winning heroics were celebrated in style.

Each and every Sunderland player played their part in a victory that was even more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

With Carlos Edwards, Dean Whitehead and Kieran Richardson injured, midfield creativity was supposed to be at a premium.

But in Grant Leadbitter and Ross Wallace, the Black Cats possessed two wide players whose passing and movement carved out a succession of gilt-edged chances.

Kenwyne Jones converted one of them in the first half, and his first Sunderland goal was a fitting reward for an energetic and enterprising display.

Wallace added a second in the early stages of the second half, but his close-range effort was overshadowed by yet another booking for taking his shirt off. The lessons of last season's dismissal at Hull have clearly not been learned.

Dave Kitson's late header made for an unnecessarily nervy finale, but a sad week on Wearside ended on a defiantly upbeat note.