Carlos Edwards' stunning late goal took Sunderland a massive step towards promotion to the Premiership with a victory over battling Burnley.

Roy Keane's Black Cats, who travel to relegated Luton on the final day, moved four points above third-placed Derby - who face a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday - but they had to show plenty of resilience against the Clarets.

Daryl Murphy's eighth of the season gave them lead in the 14th minute before David Connolly had a penalty saved five minutes later.

But Andy Gray, who managed just one goal in a miserable spell with Sunderland last season, levelled just before the interval with a penalty to take his tally to 14 for the season.

Wade Elliott's brilliant long-range effort in the 50th minute put Burnley in front but Connolly buried a third penalty of the game to get Sunderland level.

And with just over 10 minutes left Edwards' thumping effort gave the home side a decisive advantage in front of a crowd of 44,448 - the biggest crowd of the season in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The hosts began with a sense of purpose that suggested they wanted to get the job done early and for the first 35 minutes it was one-way traffic.

Connolly had a low shot saved and Anthony Stokes fired wide inside the first seven minutes as Sunderland piled forward, before Edwards shot straight at goalkeeper Brian Jensen with 12 minutes gone.

Just a minute later, Sunderland took the lead. Burnley failed to clear yet another attack and Connolly's low cross from the left was diverted home by Murphy from close range.

Shortly after the home side were generously awarded a penalty for Wayne Thomas' challenge on Connolly but the Republic of Ireland international's spot-kick was pushed away by Jensen.

And seven minutes before the break referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot again when Burnley's Wade Elliott raced onto Eric Djemba-Djemba's pass and went down under Darren Ward's challenge.

The goalkeeper touched the ball before making contact with the Clarets winger but Gray made no mistake from the spot.

Four minutes into the second half Elliott slammed in a second from 25 yards to give the visitors a shock lead.

That advantage lasted for just three minutes as Kettle awarded a third penalty of the evening for Jensen's trip on Edwards.

The nerveless Connolly rifled home the penalty to register his first in eight games to draw Sunderland level.

And the hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with Jensen pulling off a scrambling save from Edwards' powerful low effort just before the hour.

Burnley were refusing to sit back and Ward did well to palm away a dipping Paul McVeigh cross before Joey Gudjonsson volleyed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

With just under 20 minutes left, McVeigh cut in from the left, beating three men before his shot was turned away by Ward.

But in the 80th minute Sunderland got their noses in front again in some style.

In a sweeping move, Grant Leadbitter flicked Murphy into space and after a driving run, he switched right to Edwards who hit the top corner from 25 yards.

Murphy, substitute Stern John and Edwards all went close to adding a fourth but Sunderland cared little as they picked up three crucial points.

Teams

Sunderland Ward, Simpson, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Edwards,Whitehead, Liam Miller (Leadbitter 73), Stokes (Hysen 71),Murphy, Connolly (John 86).

Subs Not Used: Fulop, Yorke.

Booked: Liam Miller, Edwards.

Goals: Murphy 14, Connolly 54 pen, Edwards 80.

Burnley Jensen, Duff, Thomas, Caldwell, Harley,Elliott (Spicer 73), Djemba-Djemba, McCann (Gudjonsson 29),Jones (Akinbiyi 58), Gray, McVeigh.

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Coughlan.

Booked: Duff, Djemba-Djemba, Gudjonsson.

Goals: Gray 39 pen, Elliott 50.

Att: 44,448

Ref: T M Kettle (Rutland).