SUNDERLAND re-ignited their promotion hopes and piled on the agony for beleaguered Bradford boss Bryan Robson.

Mick McCarthy's Black Cats climbed three places in Division One to fifth, five points behind second-placed West Brom.

But there was no end to Robson's misery as the former Middlesbrough manager watched his side suffer a fifth successive defeat without scoring.

The Bantams have now won only one of their last 18 games - the first of Robson's six games in charge to date - and their plight looks increasingly desperate, with bottom club Wimbledon now level on points.

Sunderland club captain Jason McAteer struck a minute before half-time with a goal that was stunning in its execution.

Right-back Stephen Wright battled to hold the ball up and when it broke to McAteer, he clipped a glorious right-foot shot from around 20 yards which ripped into the top near corner for his second goal in three games.

Tommy Smith eased Sunderland's nerves in the 67th minute as Bradford briefly threatened a fightback when he grabbed his first goal for the club in his 16th appearance since his arrival from Watford on a free transfer in September.

Smith worked an opening for himself before surging into the box, pulling wide of his marker, and firing home a right-foot shot which took a deflection on its way in.

Substitute Kevin Kyle made the game safe in the 81st minute with his ninth goal of the season, glancing in at the near post from John Oster's left-wing corner.

Late in the game, Kyle clipped the bar with a header then drilled in a shot which took a deflection off fellow sub Michael Proctor as it flew wide.

But before Smith had intervened, Sunderland were indebted to keeper Mart Poom, who made two point-blank saves in quick succession.

The last time these sides met here almost three years ago, Sunderland were second in the Premiership, England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was in attendance keeping a watchful eye on a certain Kevin Phillips, and 47,812 crammed into the Stadium of Light to see a goalless draw.

Fate has dealt a cruel hand to both clubs since, and while Sunderland are now fighting to win back their top-flight status, Bradford appear destined for relegation for the second time in four seasons.

McCarthy started with the front pairing of Smith and Marcus Stewart, despite their unconvincing efforts in the 2-1 home win over Wimbledon a week ago.

After his poor display against the Dons, Smith looked eager to make amends. With only a minute gone, he was on the end of McAteer's right-wing cross to connect with a firm header which keeper Mark Paston did well to claim.

Oster and Paul Thirlwell both tried their luck from distance before Smith drifted wide to the right to prompt a promising move.

He delivered a dangerous ball into the box where Wright's flick forced a one-handed save from Paston, who was then relieved to see Stewart knock wide of the far post.

There was plenty of enterprise and endeavour from the Black Cats in the early stages and Smith was desperately unlucky with a 25-yarder which beat Paston comprehensively but thudded against the foot of a post.

Smith then should have done better with a 33rd-minute chance when he was set up by McAteer, but turned the ball over the bar.

Moments later, Smith found himself redeployed on the right when McCarthy was forced into a reshuffle, Kyle coming on in place of midfielder Thirlwell, who was carrying a calf strain.

Just when the feeling was growing that Sunderland were once again flattering to deceive, McAteer emerged to make the breakthrough at a vital time.

Sunderland carried their urgency into the second half and the Bantams' frustration surfaced when captain Dean Windass, who played under Robson with Boro, was booked for a nasty late tackle on home skipper George McCartney.

Poom performed heroics after Sunderland failed to press home their advantage and Bradford began to sense that a point at least was there for the taking.

In the 62nd minute, Poom saved at the feet of Ben Muirhead and, a minute later, blocked when Michael Branch escaped through the middle of the home defence.

Wright was booked for a foul on former Sunderland defender Paul Heckingbottom, but a minute later Smith conjured a crucial strike.

Result: Sunderland 3 Bradford City 0.

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