Sunderland cut Ipswich down to size as they cruised to a comfortable victory in the battle of the European wannabes at the Stadium of Light.

What started out as an evenly-matched contest quickly became a distinctly one-sided affair as the Wearsiders came from behind to leapfrog George Burley's side in the table.

Marcus Stewart had threatened to spoil the party when he put the men from Suffolk ahead with just four minutes gone, but Julio Arca's stunning free-kick put the home side back on terms and then Kevin Phillips, Danny Dichio - making his first ever start in the Premiership - and substitute Stefan Schwarz wrapped the points up in a powerful second-half display.

Ipswich have enjoyed a superb start to their most recent top flight campaign and they will play better than they did in this match but Sunderland's claims on European qualification are growing with every passing week.

Peter Reid made three changes to the side which produced a stunning fightback to draw 2-2 at Arsenal on Saturday.

Striker Niall Quinn has been struggling with a back problem all season, in addition picking up a rib injury at Highbury, and was named only on the bench as Dichio was given his chance.

Emerson Thome returned from a one-match ban to replace Stanislav Varga in central defence, and there was also a recall for Argentinian teenager Arca as Schwarz made way.

Ipswich boss George Burley kept faith with the bulk of the side which eased its way to a 3-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, with Jamie Clapham's return at the expense of Martijn Reuser the only alteration.

The sides went into the game sitting in fourth and third respectively, and it was the better placed team which struck the first blow with the game still in its infancy.

Fabian Wilnis caught the Sunderland defence square with a ball into the channel for Matt Holland and he picked out Stewart who cleverly chipped his shot over the advancing Thomas Sorensen to give Town a fourth-minute lead.

The Wearsiders immediately set about the task of reeling in their opponents as Chris Makin and Don Hutchison both chanced their arms from long-range, but it was Phillips who went closest on 16 minutes, firing over under pressure from Wilnis.

Ipswich always looked dangerous on the break, especially down the right, and James Scowcroft set up a chance for Holland on 20 minutes, although Thome got in a vital block.

Phillips shot just wide from Dichio's knock-down two minutes later but the Wearsiders were level on 25 minutes after Mark Venus was penalised for a foul on the former QPR frontman.

Arca took charge at the resulting free-kick and curled a beautiful left-foot effort into the net high to Richard Wright's left to level it.

The equaliser gave the home side further momentum, and it was they who finished the half the stronger, Phillips blasting a 43rd-minute shot just over after Hutchison had got the better of Hermann Hreidarsson.

The first-half had been a relatively even affair and it appeared that the second would be similar as Stewart, Scowcroft and Alun Armstrong resumed where they had left off before the break.

But if the visitors had their sights set on all three points, their hopes were dashed as Sunderland took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Dichio should have put his side ahead on 50 minutes when Phillips picked him out at the far post, only for Wright saved with his legs.

But the England striker showed him exactly how to do it seven minutes later.

Jody Craddock's long ball was flicked on by Dichio and Phillips controlled with his chest before expertly steering his shot past the stranded keeper.

It got worse for Town within five minutes when Phillips left Venus in his wake wide on the right and instead of shooting from a tight angle, squared the ball for Dichio to slot into the empty net.

Venus, born just a few miles down the road at Hartlepool, almost suffered the worst possible end to an uncomfortable afternoon when he was summoned by Mr Barry after hauling down Phillips as he threatened to run away from him once again, but the official was in charitable mood and produced only a yellow card.

Reid was even able to allow himself the luxury of bringing off Craddock, Gavin McCann and Arca as time ran down, but it was nevertheless his side which continued to hold sway in the closing minutes.

And they finished a good day's work off in style three minutes from time when Alex Rae crossed from the right for Schwarz to send in a drive which was deflected by Titus Bramble into his own net.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Craddock (Varga 70), Thome, Hutchison, McCann (Williams 68), Rae, Arca (Schwarz 74), Dichio, Phillips.

Subs not used: Macho, Quinn.

Booked: Craddock.

Goals: Arca 25, Phillips 57, Dichio 63, Schwarz 88.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Wilnis (McGreal 82), Bramble, Venus, Hreidarsson, Clapham (Reuser 58), Holland, Jermaine Wright, Scowcroft, Stewart, Armstrong.

Subs not used: Branagan, Johnson, Magilton.

Booked: Stewart, Bramble, Wilnis, Venus, Hreidarsson.

Goal: Stewart 5.

Attendance: 46,053

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).