Sunderland gained automatic promotion to the Barclays Premiership with this victory over Leicester, which ends their two-year exile from the top-flight.

The Black Cats came from behind to earn three points that takes them to 88 and ensures they can not be caught by third-placed Ipswich, who were unable to win at Leeds.

Alan Maybury gave the visitors a shock lead after five minutes but Marcus Stewart levelled with a neat finish midway through the first-half.

Steven Caldwell's header completed the comeback and the Black Cats now have two games left to hold off Wigan and go up as champions.

It was an enthralling contest from the start with Stewart passing up the chance to put Sunderland ahead with just 57 seconds on the clock, firing a close-range effort just wide.

Leicester spent the early exchanges camped in their own half but took the lead with their first attack.

From inside his own half, Foxes skipper Danny Tiatto guided a pass through to left-back Maybury, who held off Stephen Wright and tucked the ball inside debutant goalkeeper Ben Alnwick's far post.

Roared on by the home fans, Stewart missed again, this time from Liam Lawrence's cross, and the former Ipswich striker also had an effort chalked off for offside.

The visitors were looking to extend their lead and 18-year-old Alnwick had to show his potential with two fine saves; firstly an alert block on David Connolly's effort, and then sticking out his back leg to stop a Mark de Vries strike.

The action continued at break-neck speed, with a Stewart cross rolling across the six-yard box, Lawrence rifling a shot just wide and even Wright testing Foxes goalkeeper Ian Walker.

Midway through the first-half, Julio Arca's cross found Lawrence alone at the far post, but the winger's shot skipped just past the post.

But in the 23rd minute, the Black Cats were level. Wright knocked the ball up to Chris Brown, who guided the ball inside the full-back for Stewart to fire past Walker for his 17th of the campaign.

Wright had started the game poorly but pulled off an incredible block with Stephen Hughes looking likely to put the visitors ahead again, while Connolly missed a good chance on the stroke of half-time, blazing well over from eight yards out following a mix-up between Wright and Gary Breen.

The start of the second half was not quite as energetic but that changed when Walker showed good reflexes to get a hand to Brown's header from Dean Whitehead's cross.

The home side's frustrations boiled over when Dion Dublin fouled Brown in front of the manager's dug-outs. Brown was furious and after going head to head with Dublin, had to be dragged away by his manager before both players were booked.

But Sunderland's patience finally paid off just before the hour, when Lawrence's corner was headed in by Black Cats defender Caldwell to spark raucous celebrations.

With the prize of promotion so close, the Black Cats became edgy and were happy to maintain possession and a Patrick McCarthy header almost got the visitors level again.

But Sunderland were never really in trouble and the final whistle brought scenes of jubilation from players and supporters alike with news of Ipswich's 1-1 draw filtering through.

Teams

Sunderland Alnwick, Wright, Breen, Caldwell, Arca, Lawrence, Whitehead, Robinson, Welsh (Danny Collins 71), Stewart (Elliott 81), Brown (Deane 77).

Subs Not Used: Ingham, Thornton.

Booked: Wright, Robinson, Brown.

Goals: Stewart 23, Caldwell 60.

Leicester Walker, Kenton, McCarthy, Dublin, Maybury, Hughes, Gudjonsson (Williams 66), Nalis (Stearman 68), Tiatto, Connolly, de Vries (Moore 25).

Subs Not Used: Gillespie, Hirschfeld.

Booked: Gudjonsson, Dublin, Stearman.

Goals: Maybury 5.

Att: 34,815

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).