Sunderland 3 - 0 Norwich City: Martin O’Neill comes out on top against Paul Lambert

MARTIN O’Neill came out on top against Paul Lambert, his former Celtic captain, as Sunderland continued to soar under their new manager.

Fraizer Campbell once again answered O’Neill’s call for fresh firepower to set Lambert’s Norwich on the road to defeat. The 24-year-old, who scored on his return from long-term injury at the weekend, did so again with a stunning 21st-minute volley as the Canaries wilted on Wearside.

Stephane Sessegnon made it 2-0 within seven minutes and the scoring was complete when Phil Bardsley’s 54th-minute cross ended up in the back of the net courtesy of deflections off defender Daniel Ayala and keeper John Ruddy.

“I’m obviously particularly pleased for him,” O’Neill said of Campbell. “He’s a had a really tough time with serious injury and an enormous setback after that. He’s come back and done magnificently, really brilliantly.

“I’m just delighted for him. If he hogs the headlines tomorrow, then well done to him.”

The win extended O’Neill’s run since he replaced Steve Bruce to just two defeats in 11 games in all competitions and extended his side’s points tally to 30 – one more than last night’s visitors. For Lambert, his night in the north-east proved a sobering experience as his men failed to scale the heights they have done for much of the campaign to date. The game was effectively won inside the opening 28 minutes as Norwich simply found Campbell and Sessegnon too hot to handle. Campbell, who ended his 17th-month fitness nightmare with a vital equaliser in his side’s FA Cup fourth-round draw with Middlesbrough, opened the scoring with 21 minutes gone, in spectacular style. Winger James McClean lifted the ball over full-back Russell Martin as he cut inside and, although the defender managed to nudge it away from him, Campbell controlled before smashing a dipping volley over Ruddy and into the back of the net.

Seven minutes later Campbell turned provider, crossing from the right for Sessegnon to score with a downward header. The third goal arrived when Bardsley burst into the box and drilled in a low cross which Ayala could only turn on to his keeper and into his own net. Lambert admitted his side had been thoroughly outclassed. “We were beaten by the better side on the night,” he said.

“We were second-best the whole game. Hopefully we’ll put that one to bed and go again on Saturday.”

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Turner, O’Shea, Richardson (Bridge 82), Larsson, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon (Meyler 82), Campbell (Ji 74). Subs not used: Westwood, Wickham, Elmohamady, Lynch.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin, Ayala, Whitbread, Naughton, Johnson (Bennett 62), Crofts, Surman, Hoolahan (Pilkington 62), Holt (Wilbraham 78), Morison. Subs Not Used: Steer, Jackson, Fox, Ward. Attendance: 34,476

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)