TOMMY SMITH, so often the FA Cup hero for Sunderland this season, turned his magic touch towards helping the Black Cats keep their promotion push on track.

The talented striker, whose four goals pushed Mick McCarthy's men to the semi-finals of the oldest club competition in the world, struck a delightful opening goal in a comfortable 3-0 win over play-off rivals Sheffield United yesterday.

Influential centre-back Gary Breen, as commanding as ever at the heart of the defence, powered in Sunderland's second before substitute Kevin Kyle stroked in a third - and his 13th of the season - to secure a priceless victory.

The Wearsiders are now five points adrift of the two automatic promotion places and have the top two to play at home.

Sunderland have been claiming they are seeking a maximum six points from their Easter fixture list and they avoided getting egg on their face in this Good Friday clash.

Now McCarthy, whose side have won both their Division One matches since their FA Cup disappointment last Sunday, takes his side to Ipswich Town on Monday.

They know success there will seriously strengthen their hand as they attempt to catch Norwich and West Brom.

It was not just the result that matters to Sunderland, it is the manner of the performance which will heighten hopes of a Premiership return.

Smith's strike, his fourth in the League, after just seven minutes steadied nerves but Breen's goal allowed the home side to hit cruise control against a side still hoping to be playing in the top flight in August themselves.

Despite the narrow victory over Wimbledon, McCarthy still felt the need to make wholesale changes and not all of those were forced.

Goalkeeper Mart Poom failed to recover from a dead leg in time to play and skipper George McCartney was ruled out with ankle trouble.

So in came Thomas Myhre, who managed to keep a clean sheet on his first start of the season, and Sean Thornton, along with Jason McAteer, Smith, John Oster and Phil Babb.

Striker Darren Byfield was also handed the chance to prove his worth from the first whistle following his match-winning substitute appearance at Wimbledon.

McCarthy had been expected to freshen things up, particularly with the vital trip to promotion play-off rivals Ipswich in mind.

Whatever he had demanded had the desired effect with the hosts enjoying a bright opening. Oster, on the left flank with Julio Arca playing in a defensive role, had fired over the bar before Smith grabbed the first goal.

The seventh minute strike, his eighth of the season, was the end product of some great football from Sunderland.

Darren Williams' 30-yard pass was flicked on by the head of Byfield before Smith laid off for McAteer.

The Republic of Ireland international, out to make amends for his sending off against Millwall in the semi-final of the FA Cup, burst past midfielder Mark Rankine then crossed to Smith, whose first-time shot at the near post flew past a helpless Paddy Kenny.

It was the perfect start and one Sunderland had deserved. Visiting manager Neil Warnock's response was to make sure Smith came in for some rough tactics from centre-back Chris Morgan.

United skipper Robert Page headed a centre from Michael Tonge over from close range and Alan Wright, who started the season at Middlesbrough, directed a well-struck free-kick straight into the hands of Myhre.

That opportunity stemmed from a controversial incident in which Carl Robinson, making his home debut, was adjudged to have fouled former McCarthy target Andy Gray when everyone else thought the decision should have gone the other way.

Referee Mike Pike then further infuriated the Wearside crowd by refusing to blow his whistle on two separate occasions.

First Morgan left Byfield lying on the floor then McAteer was left hobbling following a late tackle from Rankine.

When these two sides met in the League in October it was the Blades who were flying at the top of the table.

However, since Kevin Kyle's header that afternoon Warnock's men have dropped off the pace and are battling to stay in contention for a top six place.

After the restart, they looked like dropping further in the promotion race when they proved their own worst enemy.

When Page attempted to clear his lines he dropped the ball straight to the feet of Robinson.

The 27-year-old, on loan from Portsmouth, skipped past both Morgan and Page. But, with just the keeper to beat, Kenny got down low to deny Robinson a goal against the club where he spent time earlier in the season.

Sunderland's second goal was not far away. And, when Breen had worked his way free of Phil Jagielka in the penalty area, the centre-back met Thornton's corner with a bullet header which left Kenny stranded.

The visitors, who had brought on strikers Jack Lester and Wayne Allison, could have pulled one back just moments later.

However, the steady Babb made an incredible last-ditch block to stop Paul Shaw's close-range effort finding the net.

Then, in injury time, substitute Kyle pounced to strike Thornton's ball over the top beyond Kenny.

Result: Sunderland 3 Sheffield United 0.

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