Sunderland moved to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship by overcoming the elements and a spirited Burnley side in a scrappy encounter at Turf Moor.
Mick McCarthy's side went three points clear of title rivals Wigan and Ipswich to stand top of the division for the first time since 1999 after a match which contained a contender for one of the all-time worst debuts from Burnley's new signing Ade Akinbiyi.
The former Stoke forward came on as a second-half substitute but lasted only two-and-a-half minutes - during which he planted a header straight into the arms of Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Myhre - before he was sent off for aiming a half-hearted head-butt at George McCartney.
The Black Cats will have to play much better in their remaining 10 fixtures than they did in this 2-0 victory if they are to claim one of the two automatic promotion positions.
Liam Lawrence, recalled to the starting XI for the first time since Boxing Day, headed his side in front in the first half - and Marcus Stewart made sure of the points in the 89th minute.
It was a night to forget for Clarets boss Steve Cotterill who - having watched his side register just 12 shots on goal in their past three outings - must have
been tempted to thrust £600,000 signing Akinbiyi into the action from the start.
In the end, though, the manager must have wished he had left his new striker on the bench throughout a match which never promised much in terms of fluidity on a terrible playing surface.
Sunderland, looking anything like a side destined for the top flight, continually squandered possession and seemed happy to let Burnley come at them early on.
But the Clarets let themselves down in the final third.
Graham Branch was unlucky to see Jean Louis Valois' deflected cross skim off his forehead and away from danger after eight minutes as Cotterill's side tried to break down their lethargic opponents.
Burnley could not make their territorial advantage count and paid the price, against the run of play in the 26th minute.
The home side failed to properly clear a right-wing corner - and after Stewart had seen his fierce volley blocked by Mo Camara, Lawrence rose to head home the opening goal.
Sunderland were convinced they should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Peter Whittingham appeared to handle on his own goalline. The spot-kick would not have been needed, though, had Stewart not blazed the rebound
high over the bar.
Burnley huffed and puffed through the second half but never looked like troubling their opponents, whose centre-back pairing of Gary Breen and Stephen Caldwell can hardly have experienced a much easier night's work.
Jeff Whitley's stinging drive was brilliantly kept out by Brian Jensen as the visitors went looking for the killer second, before Whittingham drew an equally good stop from Myhre at the other end.
But Stewart eventually made sure of the victory by drilling home substitute Chris Brown's low cross at the death.
Teams
Burnley Jensen, Duff (Akinbiyi 80), Cahill, Sinclair, Camara,
Valois, Grant (Roche 45), Hyde, Branch, Whittingham, Moore.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pilkington, Scott.
Sent Off: Akinbiyi (83).
Booked: Roche.
Sunderland Myhre, Whitehead, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney,
Lawrence, Whitley, Robinson, Thornton (Welsh 71),
Bridges (Brown 85), Stewart.
Subs Not Used: Neill Collins, Alnwick, Danny Collins.
Booked: Caldwell.
Goals: Lawrence 26, Stewart 89.
Att: 12,103
Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).
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