IT might not be the most glamorous part of the world - but Sunderland seem to have developed a liking for the West Midlands.

Last week's win at Birmingham took them into the last eight of the FA Cup, while last night's success at neighbours Walsall keeps Mick McCarthy's men in the thick of the promotion race as they enter their most crucial month of the season.

A run of ten games in 31 days will determine what league the Black Cats are playing their football in next season but, if they are all as easy as this, then March could be the month when Sunderland make their march on the Premiership.

Julio Arca's first-half opener set the Wearsiders on their way and, while Neil Emblen equalised against the run of play shortly after the break, further goals from Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart gave the visitors the scoreline their play deserved.

It wasn't quite the 5-0 romp that Sunderland enjoyed on their last trip to the Bescot Stadium in 1999, but their class told against opponents who looked like a side who have now gone ten games without a win.

The absence of both Stephen Wright and Gary Breen meant that McCarthy was forced into a defensive reshuffle, with Darren Williams and Arca forming a somewhat unorthodox full-back pairing.

The new-look backline was given an early test when Zigor Aranalde slung over a fourth-minute cross that evaded everyone on its way across the face of the Sunderland goal, but that was a rare moment of worry in a first half dominated by the visitors.

Aranalde's surging left-wing runs remained a threat but, beyond their long-haired full-back, Walsall were left dreadfully short of attacking ideas.

Their game revolved around pumping long balls in the vague direction of either Steve Corica or Gary Wales but, once they failed to worry the composed Phil Babb, Paul Bracewell's side were left without a Plan B.

Instead, Sunderland were able to dominate midfield with Paul Thirlwell and Jeff Whitley offering a platform from which the visitors' flair players could pour forward at will.

John Oster posted the first notice of Sunderland's attacking intent with a tenth-minute strike that curled into the arms of Jimmy Walker, but it was left-wing accomplice Arca that broke the deadlock eight minutes later.

The Argentinian fed the ball to Tommy Smith, recalled after his two-goal exploits at Birmingham last week, and while he was somewhat fortunate to receive the former Watford striker's lay-off, there was nothing lucky about the left-footed strike that fizzed into the back of the net from 18 yards.

Arca's adaptability has been a major bonus for the Black Cats this season and, after breaking the deadlock with his attacking vision, it was the turn of his defensive skills to come to the fore midway through the first half.

Aranalde whipped in another dangerous left-wing centre and Arca was forced into a last-gasp headed clearance off the line before back-pedalling all the way into his own net.

That was a rare moment when he was forced to go backwards though and the South American was back on the front foot when he slung over a pinpoint centre five minutes after the break.

Kyle met it with a thumping header, but Walsall keeper Walker produced a fine save to acrobatically turn the ball on to the crossbar. His opposite number Mart Poom had been a spectator up to that point, but the Estonian got in on the act with a smart stop of his own two minutes later, throwing himself to his left to tip Darren Bazeley's 30-yard thunderbolt over the top.

That save gave the Saddlers a rare attacking platform and, when Sunderland failed to clear Simon Osborn's corner, they were punished in unexpected fashion.

Substitute Pedro Matias made a hash of his attempted half-volley, but centre-half Emblen reacted first to head home from six yards.

Parity was harsh on the Wearsiders but they didn't have to wait long to see their advantage restored. Oster's corner was cleared back to him three minutes later but, from his second attempt, Kyle rose highest to plant a firm header into the roof of the net.

The bulky marksman almost doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark, seeing his deflected header loop narrowly over the top, but he turned provider as substitute Stewart made the win safe with nine minutes left. Kyle reacted quickest to flick on Jason McAteer's right-wing corner and top-scorer Stewart was on hand to stab home from close range.

Result: Walsall 1 Sunderland 3.

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