Two goals during an utterly dominant first half gave Brentford victory at the Stadium of Light.
A first Brentford goal for Kamo Mokotjo and a sublime back-heel from Neal Maupay were just reward for a Bees side which completely bossed the opening period.
Sunderland rallied at the start of the second half but in truth Brentford never looked like losing as they recorded their first win in four.
In the opening stages Andreas Bjelland headed wide of the right-hand post and Ollie Watkins saw a shot parried behind for a corner at the near post.
Incisive passing down the right saw Henrik Dalgaard pick out Florian Jozefzoon, but the Dutchman’s snap shot was held by Lee Camp.
Mokotjo gave the Bees the lead after Maupay did well on the edge of the box to hold the ball up, before the South African found the bottom-right corner with one touch.
Some neat footwork from Jozefzoon saw him cut in from the right before firing just over the bar.
After Watkins gave the ball away in the middle of the park Aiden McGeady burst forward and brought a good save out of Dan Bentley.
A sublime finish from Maupay saw the Bees double their lead. After Jozefzoon broke clear down the right he found Watkins and his pass to the Frenchman was back-heeled past Camp.
Brentford (4-1-4-1): Bentley; Clarke, Bjelland, Egan, Dalsgaard; McEachran (Woods 58); Sawyers, Jozefzoon, Mokotjo (Judge 77), Watkins; Maupay (Marcondes 83)
Subs not used: Daniels, Mepham, MacLeod, Barbet
This post was last modified on 17/02/2018