SUNDERLAND slumped to their third consecutive defeat of the season in London and the spectre of relegation again looms large on the horizon after they lost 4-0 to Chelsea.

Peter Reid's men are better off points-wise than most candidates for a dreaded bottom-three placing - but fans who made the trip to Stamford Bridge were left wondering if fight alone will be sufficient to preserve the club's precious Premiership status.

Certainly Sunderland, for all their hard work and effort, could not match star-studded Chelsea for a degree of skill and imagination which delights the eye, though the score-line did flatter a side which has also scored four goals in its previous two games against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Sunderland's hopes of causing a major upset received a body blow before a ball was kicked when ace striker Kevin Phillips was ruled out with a muscle strain, and while his absence was not the sole reason for defeat it denied the Wearsiders their main cutting edge.

And manager Peter reid's decision to play with one man up front - the ever-willing Patrick Mboma - and use a five man midfield, was hardly bursting with ambition.

And while Sunderland again produced their renowned and often phenomenal work-rate, denying polished Chelsea space and time on the ball, they were never in the same class.

Chelsea, packed with quality, found their opponents uncompromising in all areas of the field, but there was always the feeling that while Sunderland were playing at their maximum, the Blues had hardly scratched the surface of their substantial resources.

Sunderland could ill afford to gift their opponents anything, but they were hopelessly adrift when Chelsea took the lead in the 24th minute, skipper Marcel Desailly heading down a right wing corner for his central defensive partner, William Gallas to force home from close range.

It was an untidy goal which afforded Chelsea valuable breathing space on a greasy, rain-soaked surface, but 27-goal Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his strike-partner Eidur Gudjohnsen - the scourge of Premiership defences this season - made little first half impression against the resolute pairing of Jody Craddock and Darren Williams.

And with Michael Gray looking as dangerous as anyone on the right flank Sunderland kept threatening to grab a goal from alarming moments of indicision in the heart of the home defence.

It almost came in the 41st minute when former England midfielder Gavin McCann, back after a two-month injury absence, headed narrowly wide as Carlo Cudicini, who had conceded four goals against the Wearsiders in the corresponding fixture last season, missed a right wing corner from Gray.

Sunderland came even closer three minutes into the second half when the Italian keeper figer-tipped a rasping 20-yarder from left winger Kevin Kilbane round the post. Despite the two flashes of aggression Sunderland looked vulnerable even though Chelsea struggled to put together the type of inventive, attacking football which was to prove so devastating in the final 15 minutes.

It took a controversial goal, however, from Gudjohnsen in the 73rd minute to settle Chelsea and open the floodgates.

Up-and-coming Northern Ireland fullback George McCartney, who'd had a dingt-dong battle with richly talented winger Jesper Gronkjaer, lost the ball in a questionable challenge and the Danish international centred perfectly to free the Icelander, who kept his composure as goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen raced from his line and coolly chipped his shot into the corner of the net.

It was a clinical finish which knocked the stuffing out of Sunderland and gave Chelsea the reassurance they need to suddenly put their game into gear and produce a thrilling finale for the home fans.

Certainly Chelsea's third goal, from substitute Mikael Forssell, was a brilliantly executed effort in the 82nd minute, leaving Sorensen helpless as he fired his left-foot shot home from just outside the box.

From then on it was backs-to-the-wall for Sunderland, who were made to suffer further punishment as the midfield skills of Sam Della Bona were rewarded in the second minute of stoppage time when he lashed a low, left foot shot home from 20 yards.

A four-nil score-line did not do Sunderland justice, but the defeat served to show just how much they rely on Phillips for their fire-power.

Mboma contributed a couple of enterprising overhead kicks but badly lacked adequate support, and by the time Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn joined the fray, the game was already lost.