DANNY Rohl made a beeline for Jack Clarke and told Sunderland's star he can go to "the next level" after the Black Cats' emphatic win over his Sheffield Wednesday side at the Stadium of Light.

Rohl's Owls strolled to a comfortable 2-0 success on Wearside on the final day of last season but had a very different experience on Sunday when they were blown away by the brilliant Black Cats.

And although Clarke didn't get on the scoresheet, he tortured the visitors throughout, having a hand in Luke O'Nien's goal and teeing up Eliezer Mayenda for his second.

Rohl was hugely impressed by Sunderland on the whole - but particularly by Clarke, who has enjoyed a scintillating start to the Championship season sparking fresh reports of transfer interest.

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"In the last game Sunderland were in no man's land," said Rohl, looking back on his side's win in May.

"When I saw this time the performance from Clarke and compared it with the last game here, it's a huge difference.

"I told him this after the game, it was a great performance, we saw your quality, if you play like this always you'll go to the next level. It's not my job to tell him this but I did."

Rohl had no complaints with the outcome on Sunday and said his priority now is ensuring his side dust themselves down in time for Friday's game against Leeds United.

He said: "We came here with a lot of deserved confidence and belief but I said after the last game against Plymouth, it's Championship football and Championship football is about delivering game by game, and after one win one more, then three and four more.

"Last time we were here we had a good feeling, this time it feels really bad but I believe in this process. We will have games like this, now it's about the reaction.

"After 10 minutes you have a feeling as a manager, if you are making the runs, if you are sharp enough, but for us it was a bit off. I take responsibility and hopefully I'll take the right things from this game and prepare my team for a strong fight against Leeds."