GILLINGHAM were responsible for relegating Sunderland out of English football's second tier in 1987 and, while last night's 2-1 win will not erase the memory of that dark day, it may yet prove crucial in moving the Black Cats in the opposite direction.

Most Sunderland fans are desperate to forget the Tony Cascarino goal that condemned their club to its one and only season in Division Three, but they will be somewhat keener to remember the strikes from Sean Thornton and Darren Byfield that took the Black Cats to fourth in the First Division.

Mick McCarthy's side endured a sticky 20 minutes as Patrick Agyemang drew Gillingham level towards the end of the first half, but they were dominant on either side of that period and thoroughly deserved to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Byfield's wonderful second half winner was his third goal in three games and, after being in and out of the side since moving from Rotherham last month, the Jamaica international is emerging as Sunderland's talisman.

His pace and poise ultimately proved the difference between the two sides and, while he is unable to play in part in trying to take Sunderland to the FA Cup final next month, he could yet prove pivotal in helping them achieve an even greater goal this season.

The games might be coming thick and fast, but there's nothing quite like winning to keep the legs fresh and Byfield kept his place in the starting line-up as McCarthy kept faith with the side that had outplayed Reading at the weekend.

For the opening quarter of an hour, that faith appeared to be justified as the Black Cats tore into a Gillingham side ravaged by injuries to ten first team players.

Jeff Whitley had more reason to impress than most in his final game before a five-match ban and the fiery midfielder was first to try his luck with a dipping half-volley, which flew narrowly over the bar from 20 yards.

John Oster also went close, forcing a sharp save from Gills goalkeeper Steve Banks after an intelligent one-two with Kevin Kyle.

Oster began in typically expansive fashion on the left but, for much of the first half, Sunderland's greatest threat came from the strong running of Thornton on the opposite flank.

The Republic of Ireland international was responsible for making the breakthrough in the 12th minute.

Kyle was clattered by Leon Johnson on the edge of the box and, from the resultant free-kick, Thornton curled a pinpoint strike over the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Banks.

The home side were in complete control at that stage and, had either Kyle or Oster converted the chances that came their way shortly afterwards, Sunderland could well have been out of sight.

As it was they found themselves gradually running out of steam as a physical Gillingham side began to muscle them out of the game.

The visitors offered little in the way of intricate passing or incisive build-up play but, in the shape of Patrick Agyemang and Mamady Sidibe, they possessed two of the strongest strikers in the First Division.

The duo's physical presence proved to be Sunderland's undoing as a bizarre equaliser arrived shortly before the half-hour mark.

Full back Nicky Southall slung over a hanging cross from the right and, with neither Phil Babb nor Gary Breen dealing with the danger, the ball struck a nonplussed Agyemang on the chest before creeping over the line.

The equaliser stung the Black Cats back into life and Whitley saw his long-range piledriver well saved by Banks before blazing over with an even better opportunity on the stroke of half-time.

McCarthy replaced a strangely subdued Kyle with Tommy Smith and, in similar fashion to last weekend's events at the Madejski Stadium, the substitute's partnership with Byfield produced rapid results.

Just seven minutes of the second half had gone when Smith fed the former Rotherham striker from the right touchline.

While he still had a lot to do at that stage, Byfield bamboozled Johnson with a wonderful stepover before drilling a fierce drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Suddenly Sunderland found themselves enjoying the same sort of dominance they had exhibited in the early stages of the first half and Byfield was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after being bundled over in the box three minutes after scoring.

Even first-half substitute Darren Williams found himself getting in on the act.

He surged out of defence to crash Oster's left-wing corner against the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.

Oster saw his rising drive saved by Banks as full-time approached but Sunderland were unable to add the third goal which their second-half display merited.

It didn't matter because, with Whitley and Paul Thirlwell controlling the heart of midfield, they never looked like relinquishing their lead for a second time.

Result: Sunderland 2 Gillingham 1.

Read more about Sunderland here.