In contrast, the visitors desperately missed top scorer Kevin Phillips. The Black Cats played well before Chelsea's second-half onslaught proved too much and they now face a battle to secure top flight football for next season.

There was a somewhat dull start to the encounter. Mario Melchiot's miss-hit pass across the edge of his own box gave Sunderland captain Michael Gray the first chance of the game after just eight minutes but he managed to totally miss the target altogether.

Cameroon international Patrick Mboma had a great chance after 12 minutes when he turned cleverly in the Blues area, but his shot was well gathered by Carlo Cudicini.

Gallas opened the scoring with his second tap-in in a week. Le Saux floated an in-swinging corner from the right and Desailly's nodded down, and from six-yards Gallas somehow used his thigh to nudge the ball past Gavin McCann.

Sunderland still looked in the game at that point and went close just before half time when Gray delivered a far-post corner from the right. McCann beat Cudicini only to see his header bounce wide.

The visitors came out after the break with a more determined approach and quickly forced a smart save from Cudicini after 47 minutes. Kevin Kilbane hit a ferocious drive from 25 yards, and the Blues goalkeeper dived to his left to push it round the post.

Chelsea realistically wrapped up the game with a well-taken goal after 72 minutes by Gudjohnsen. The in-form striker was released by Gronkjaer and, as Sorensen came off his line, the Icelander delicately chipped the ball into the far corner.

Gudjohnsen was replaced by Forssell after 82 minutes, and within a minute the super-sub played a one-two with Le Saux on the edge of the box and buried the ball in the back of the net for Chelsea's third.