CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? Who needs it? At the unglamorous surroundings of the Priestfield Stadium, Sunderland last night proved life can be just as exciting in the First Division.

As Manchester United went head-to-head with Rangers and Chelsea hammered Italian giants Lazio, Mick McCarthy's men turned on the style in an impressive showing at Gillingham - that's Kent, for those who didn't know.

Once again loan capture Stewart Downing proved why he his held in such glowing esteem; and at this rate Sunderland may well have a fight on their hands to retain the services of the youngster.

The Middlesbrough winger, on Wearside for just a month, scored his first goal for the Black Cats on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Gillingham's lead given to them by Paul Shaw.

And the excellent Downing, making only his second start for the club, played a part in both John Oster and Marcus Stewart's goals to complete a well-deserved 3-1 win.

It was a victory which was only Sunderland's second in six matches - but when Stewart scores Sunderland win, or so it has proved so far this season.

Sunderland's problems off the pitch had been further highlighted yesterday as ongoing debts of £36m were revealed - with losses of £21m announced for the financial year ending in July.

And those damaging figures had looked like being compounded on the pitch in recent weeks; one goal in five matches threatened to put a dampner on the promotion push.

Despite the worrying cash shortage at the Stadium of Light, McCarthy has attempted to try to solve the goal drought by spending a few pennies on Huddersfield hot-shot Jon Stead.

But where Sunderland may have failed thus far in their attempts to sign Stead, they certainly succeeded in persuading North-East neighbours Boro to part with Downing.

And it was the 19-year-old, part of an unchanged XI from that which drew 0-0 at West Brom on Saturday, who sparked the game into life within seconds.

Downing's pace was always going to be a cause for concern for Gillingham, but highly-rated right-back Nyron Nosworthy proved he had the ability to stifle this specific threat for the majority of the opening half.

Nevertheless it was Sunderland who had the first shot on goal. Midfielder Colin Healy burst through before his weak right foot shot was easily dealt with by Jason Brown.

It was another Healy effort that provided Sunderland with their second opening, but this time the Irishman failed to find the target from the edge of the area and the ball trickled wide.

Sandwiched in between those chances Gillingham, spurred forward by player-manager Andy Hessenthaler, had the best chance.

David Perpetuini delivered a pin-point cross from the left onto the head of his boss; only for Hessenthaler, who had worked his way free, to head wide from six yards.

But Gillingham's woe turned into delight eight minutes before half-time after withstanding a momentary attacking surge from the visitors. First Julio Arca fired over from distance and then Kevin Kyle's outstretched boot failed to turn Healy's whizzing right-wing cross towards Brown's goal.

Hessenthaler's superb corner was flicked on by defender Chris Hope and uncompromising forward Paul Shaw was on hand to head beyond Poom from close range on 37 minutes.

Seconds later the same combination assisted to create an opening for Mamady Sidibe, but Poom spared Sunderland's blushes by denying the former Swansea striker's effort.

And Downing made Gillingham pay when he pounced at the back post on the stroke of half-time to draw the Black Cats level.

He broke free of his marker Nosworthy before connecting to impressive Oster's cross from the right with a terrific left foot volley which hit the floor before bouncing into the roof of Brown's net.

That would have put Sunderland in front had Marcus Stewart's effort not rebounded off the foot of the post following Downing's centre.

But after the restart Sunderland took control. And they took the lead shortly after Kevin Kyle hit the bar from outside the area.

Scorer Downing turned provider when he turned Nosworthy before finding Oster at the back post. The Welshman volleyed beyond Brown, who could not stop the ball from going under him.

Stewart, with just one goal in 11 games before last night, then finished off a superb move on 72 minutes. Downing started the move - which also involved Kyle - and Stewart slid into place Oster's centre beyond Brown.

Result: Gillingham 1 Sunderland 3.

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