When Jaouen Hadjam lashed Brighton’s second goal low beyond Robin Roefs, it sparked a mass exodus. With a smattering of boos, the Stadium of Light emptied at a speed of knots and frown lines creased the forehead of Sunderland’s manager, Régis Le Bris.
Undaunted by Pascal Struijk’s second-half red card, Brighton had not merely cemented their hold on third place but boosted an already healthy points tally to 13.
