FOR the first 45 minutes, this Wear-Tees derby was evenly matched; for the second 45 minutes it was a mismatch. In between was the moment that changed the game.

Dan Neil’s dismissmal, a second yellow card for dissent, deep in first half stoppage time was the decisive moment. Sunderland never recovered while Boro took full advantage, Michael Carrick’s side running in four second half goals on an afternoon that will live long in the memory on Teesside. Sunderland would rather forget it

It was former Sunderland youth sensation Sam Greenwood – on his first return to the Stadium of Light as a senior player – who set Boro on their way to what turned into an emphatic victory. Matt Crooks scored the second and the brilliant Isaiah Jones the third before substitute Marcus Forss wrapped up the hammering in stoppage time.

Greenwood’s dad is a Sunderland fan but was in the away end, where the Boro fans enjoyed themselves in the top tier. “We want five,” they sang late on.

Jack Clarke has arguably been the Championship’s best player so far this season but Jones was the stand-out winger on the pitch.

His return to form and the continued improvement of summer signings such as Greenwood are helping Boro climb the Championship table. It’s now four wins in a row for Carrick’s side.

Tony Mowbray will be keen to quickly put this in the past, though frustratingly for the Black Cats there’s now a two-week wait for the next game. For Boro, the next fixture can’t come soon enough.

There were no surprises in the Sunderland line-up, with Mowbray naming an unchanged team on the back of the midweek Watford win and with Alex Pritchard not risked.

It wasn’t quite as simple for Carrick, who was dealt a major blow in the build-up to the game with Riley McGree ruled out with a foot injury. Matt Crooks came in, with Sam Greenwood keeping his place in the side. The other planned change was Rav van den Berg for Tommy Smith, but after the Dutch defender picked up an injury in the warm-up, Carrick was forced into a rethink. Smith started.

After suffering with illness, Jonny Howson and Darragh Lenihan were only deemed fit enough for the bench, meaning Dan Barlaser and Paddy McNair kept their place in the team. As did Lukas Engel after his breakthrough Cardiff display.

Boro started confidently and although Sunderland grew into the half and looked to be finishing the opening period on top, the game swung in Boro's favour when Neil was sent off. The midfielder had been booked earlier in the half for a foul on Coburn before getting a second yellow card for dissent, to the fury of Mowbray.

The sending off was followed by a melee at half-time after a coming together between Coburn and Ballard, with Carrick rushing to the scene in an attempt to settle things down.

Boro had done a good job of that in the early stages of the game. Carrick had stressed to his players they needed cool heads in the “extra charged” atmosphere and the visitors looked at ease in possession and didn’t panic in the face of Sunderland’s press. Everything was going through Hayden Hayden, who had a hand in the move that led to a half chance for Coburn, when the striker was unable to get enough contact on a Smith cross from the right.

Sunderland grew into it, though. Roberts played in the central No.10 role against Watford in midweek but was shifted back out to his favoured right flank. He showed why at the midway stage of the opening period when he weaved in from the right with the ball glued to his left foot before forcing Dieng into a fine save with his feet.

Boro responded and after ex-Sunderland youngster Greenwood had a shot parried by Patterson, Coburn pounced on the rebound, his close range effort from a tight angle hitting the outside of the post.

But Clarke and Roberts were looking increasingly threatening as the first half approached its end – before the sending off changed things.

Boro were visibly boosted after the break and had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring inside the first five minutes of the second half. Patterson denied Crooks from close range after a cross from the impressive Jones, before McNair headed over from close range.

The goal Boro had threatened since half-time arrived 13 minutes into the second half. Dael Fry picked out Greenwood, who turned and lashed beyond Patterson to break the deadlock. Just two minutes later, the game was all but wrapped up. Jones darted past Clarke with ease, before teeing up Crooks, who couldn’t miss. And Jones got the goal he deserved 17 minutes from time.

The home defence opened up as Jones cut in from the right and kept his cool to slot home with his left foot. And substitute Forss scored the fourth in the last minute after Latte Lath’s initial shot was saved.