Sunderland gave Mick McCarthy the perfect present as Plymouth's attempts to spoil his second anniversary in charge were brushed aside at the Stadium of Light.

Goals from Dean Whitehead, the returning Julio Arca, and a penalty from Marcus Stewart demonstrated Sunderland's Premiership potential as they converted all three of their chances in an otherwise frustrating first half.

Steven Caldwell scored a fourth 15 minutes from time before Plymouth substitute Scott Taylor netted a late consolation for the visitors.

But there was still time for Sean Thornton to add a fifth to give Plymouth a taste of their own medicine after their 5-1 demolition of Brighton at the weekend.

The win, the Black Cats' fifth on the spin, keeps them level at the top of the league with Wigan, who they play in a potential title-decider in three weeks' time.

But, despite the margin of the victory, they were made to work hard for all three points by opponents determined to show the 400-mile trek from the south west had done nothing to dull their edge.

Indeed, a defensive display full of industry and commitment completely neutralised their promotion-chasing hosts for the opening half-hour.

Eschewing all the adventurousness that brought them their biggest win of the season on Saturday, they were clearly aiming to improve on a woeful away record that has seen them lose 11 games on their travels this season.

Sunderland, meanwhile, brought back both Arca and Steven Elliott who came off the bench to combine for the Black Cats' 1-0 win at Crewe at the weekend, with Sean Thornton and Michael Bridges missing out.

And Elliott started brightly, being a willing front-runner to lofted and threaded balls alike.

But Jeff Whitley threatened to spoil his side's early progress when he lost the ball in the middle of the park for the second time in the first five minutes and his crude attempt to win it back resulted in a deserved yellow card.

The frustration soon spread to the rest of the team but the momentum of the match changed shortly after the half-hour when a great cross from the right from Steven Caldwell found Whitehead, who could not miss from six yards.

Whitehead then turned provider minutes later when he sent over an almost identical ball for Arca to make it two.

And the points looked to have been wrapped up on the stroke of half-time when Graham Coughlan brought down Stewart in the box and the striker got up to stroke his 15th goal of the season past Luke McCormick.

With the game seemingly safe, McCarthy replaced Whitley and Whitehead with Liam Lawrence and Thornton at the start of the second half.

With 15 minutes remaining, the two Sunderland substitutes combined to make it four as Thornton's corner fell to Lawrence who delivered a dangerous cross, which McCormick flapped at, allowing Caldwell to head into an unguarded net.

A Plymouth break led to Taylor firing a consolation from the edge of the box but Sunderland had the final say with Thornton's superb run and finish ensuring the boss's anniversary ended on a high note.

Teams

Sunderland Myhre, Wright, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Whitehead (Thornton 45), Whitley (Lawrence 45), Robinson, Arca, Elliott, Stewart (Brown 79).

Subs Not Used: Ingham, Bridges.

Booked: Whitley, Elliott, Breen, Robinson.

Goals: Whitehead 31, Arca 40, Stewart 45 pen, Caldwell 75, Thornton 90.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Coughlan, Aljofree, Gilbert, Norris, Wotton, Gudjonsson (Evans 79), Capaldi, Chadwick, Blackstock (Taylor 79).

Subs Not Used: Worrell, Lasley, Doumbe.

Booked: Norris.

Goals: Taylor 88.

Att: 25,258

Ref: M Cowburn (Lancashire).