Wide man Ahmed Elmohamady played the whole 90 minutes of the match, although he sustained a serious facial injury last weekend against Newcastle United.

Kieran Richardson hit both of the Black Cats' goals.

He opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he went one-on-one with the goalie to send home an acurrate low shot that touched the keeper on its way into the net.

Richardson doubled the lead six minutes past the half-hour mark with another close-range low effort.

Charlie Adam hit Blackpool's strike upon converting a penalty kick four minutes from time.

Sixth-placed Sunderland have now 37 points while Blackpool lie 11th on 28.