Luton Town 0 Sunderland 5

KENILWORTH ROAD was the scene of wild Wearside celebrations as Sunderland ensured their return to the Premiership will be as Championship champions.

After Birmingham City failed to overcome Preston North End at Deepdale, thousands of Black Cats fans inside the home of Luton Town were left hailing Roy Keane's title-winners.

Biirmingham's defeat would have counted for very little had Sunderland not taken all three points from Bedfordshire. That, though, was clearly never on the cards.

Within six minutes Sunderland had strolled into a two-goal lead. Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy both delivered stinging low drives which Hatters keeper Dean Brill could do little about.

Murphy, less than 60 seconds after half-time, added his second from close-range after some fine wing play from Stokes on the left.

The vibrant travelling support, of which there was far more than the offical 1,800 recorded in the away end, were given further goals to cheer about in the final stages.

Just two minutes after entering as a substitute, Scottish winger Ross Wallace struck a sweet left foot drive from 25 yards into Brill's bottom corner.

And, after David Connolly's deft header in the closing stages completed the rout, the party really started when news filtered through Birmingham had been defeated.

Keane's first season at the helm has ended with a Championship winner's medal. All hope around the Stadium of Light now is firmly centered around becoming a force to be reckoned with in the top-flight next term.