Gary Breen and Marcus Stewart fired the first-half goals which sent Sunderland up into an automatic promotion spot in the Coca-Cola Championship with a deserved win at home to Cardiff.

Breen took advantage of a mix-up between Rhys Weston and Graham Kavanagh in the fourth minute to score his second goal in successive games.

Then Stewart headed in a Dean Whitehead cross just before the break to push the Black Cats into second place, above Ipswich on goal difference.

Tony Vidmar gave the Bluebirds a sniff of a point with a late volley, but City substitute Alan Lee was sent off in stoppage time for an elbow on Stephen Caldwell.

Sunderland went in front after a calamitous blunder when Weston and Kavanagh collided with each other down the left flank.

Andy Welsh crossed to the far post for Breen to convert with a shot which was half-stopped by goalkeeper Neil Alexander before the ball crept over the line.

Wales defender Weston was unable to continue, so former Sunderland player Darren Williams came on for an unexpected early taste of the action.

Sunderland nearly extended their lead in the 12th minute when Whitehead's mishit shot fell straight into the path of Stephen Elliott a couple of yards out. But he failed to squeeze in a shot, and Alexander pounced to gather the ball.

The Bluebirds nearly levelled with their first shot on goal a minute later only for Junichi Inamoto's well-struck effort to flash just past the upright.

City gradually started to come out of their shells and pressed the home defence with a series of attacks.

Breen kept out a Richard Langley cross and then had to be on his toes to prevent Inamoto's cross from finding Peter Thorne.

Sunderland suffered an injury blow of their own in the 35th minute when Mark Lynch was carried off with a dislocated knee after a full-blooded tackle. Liam Lawrence came on for his first appearance in 11 games.

Welsh, who spurned a great chance to put Stewart in the clear, then fired in a cross-shot which skidded past the post before Sunderland doubled the lead two minutes before the break.

Whitehead sent in a perfect cross for Stewart to get in front of Vidmar and put his header into the corner.

Breen had to be on his toes again at the start of the second half as he made a crucial clearance to deny Thorne after a fine run-and-cross by Jobi McAnuff.

Mick McCarthy's men should have extended their lead in the 52nd minute, but Welsh somehow managed to fluff his lines just five yards out after good work from Carl Robinson and Stewart.

City always looked capable of grabbing a goal and they nearly pulled one back in the 65th minute when Langley took an air shot from McAnuff's cross.

Sunderland started to take control as Breen's volley was sliced over the bar by Vidmar, and Jeff Whitley drove over the bar.

But just as it looked as if the points were safe, Cardiff struck five minutes from time when Vidmar looped a volley over the head of Thomas Myhre following a corner.

Danny Gabbidon nearly stole a point for Cardiff in the final minute only for his 25-yard free-kick to fall the wrong side of the post, before Lee received his marching orders.

Teams

Sunderland Myhre, Lynch (Lawrence 36), Caldwell, Breen, McCartney, Whitehead, Robinson, Whitley, Welsh (Danny Collins 90), Stewart, Elliott (Brown 90).

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Bridges.

Goals: Breen 4, Stewart 42.

Cardiff Alexander, Weston (Williams 5), Gabbidon, Vidmar, Barker, Langley, Inamoto (Ledley 69), Kavanagh, McAnuff, Jerome (Lee 58), Thorne.

Subs Not Used: Warner, Bullock.

Sent Off: Lee (90).

Goals: Vidmar 85.

Att: 32,788

Ref: T Leake (Lancashire).