Kris Commons scored twice after the break as Premiership-bound West Brom were put to the sword at Stoke.
The Britannia Stadium's announcer inadvertently credited Commons with team-mate Darel Russell's first-half opener.
But there was no mistaking the scorer of the Potters' second and third goals as the lacklustre Baggies, who had Scott Dobie to thank for their consolation, were utterly outclassed and consequently will finish as runners-up to Norwich.
Gifton Noel-Williams completed the rout with a headed fourth for City before Jason Koumas was dismissed for a petulant kick at Russell with only moments remaining.
It had been the visitors who made the early running with Stoke keeper Neil Cutler saving untidily at the far post after Darren Moore had risen highest to meet a corner floated in from the right by Jason Koumas.
Stoke bared their teeth for the first time just short of the half-hour but John Halls was hopelessly wide with an ambitious set-piece effort struck from more than 30 yards out.
But it had been indecisive defending from West Brom, who had wasted ample opportunities to clear their lines following a free-kick, which precipitated mayhem in their own penalty area where Russell pounced to fire goalwards through a thicket of defenders' legs.
Debate as to who was responsible for the telling deflection proved academic though as goalkeeper Russell Hoult was wrong-footed on his line and could only glance despairingly to his left as the ball scuttled home.
Albion, already sure of automatic promotion to the Premiership, produced more gusto and fluency after the break and Halls was called upon to clear a Lee
Hughes effort off the line following Sean Gregan's nod down.
Five minutes later the visitors were back on terms as Dobie's glancing header found the back of the Potters' net from a left-wing flag-kick taken by Koumas.
The visitors had their tails up by now and Dobie went close to scoring his second of the night and eighth of the season when, in the 59th minute, he cut in off the right but was denied by the reactions of Cutler.
But against the run of play the Premiership-bound Baggies found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline once more when Commons lashed a 63rd-minute
free-kick low through the wall.
Hoult appeared to have had the shot covered but as he stooped to collect, the ball squirmed out of his grasp and trickled over the line.
And Stoke's third was not long in coming. Russell passed to Halls on the right wing and he sent in a perfect centre which Commons sidefooted home with aplomb.
There was still time for another though and the Baggies' humiliation was completed as Commons crossed from the left for Noel-Williams to score at the back post with an easy header.
And the visitors' night of misery was completed in the 87th minute when referee Keith Hill sent off Koumas following a clash with Russell.
Teams
Sunderland: Poom, McCartney, Breen, Babb, Bjorklund,
Oster (Clark 88), Whitley, Robinson, Thornton,
Stewart (Tommy Smith 80), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Byfield, Ramsden, Myhre.
Booked: Thornton, McCartney.
Goals: Robinson 44.
Norwich: Green, Drury, Fleming, Mackay, Edworthy, Huckerby,
Holt, Francis, Cooper (Mulryne 63), Svensson (Roberts 85),
McKenzie (McVeigh 64).
Subs Not Used: Brennan, Crichton.
Booked: Cooper.
Att: 35,174
Ref: D Pugh (Merseyside).
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