Sunderland strikers Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips teamed up to end their side's run of three successive defeats in style.

The pair struck within two minutes of each other in a first-half blitz to effectively kill off Swindon.

Sunderland began strongly but were rarely able to make the most of a glut of possession.

Winger Nicky Summerbee in particular was doing well down the left, but was struggling to pick out Quinn in the middle.

But when they got it right, they did so to devastating effect.

Quinn, who had earlier gone wide with a near post header, controlled Chris Makin's 28th-minute cross well before hammering the ball between keeper Frank Talia's legs for his 15th of the season.

And the cheers had barely died in the throats of the home supporters when a cleverly worked free-kick allowed Allan Johnston to shoot, and his effort was deflected home by Phillips to put his side firmly in the driving seat with half an hour gone.

Iffy Onuora had wasted a good opportunity while the scores were still level, but it took a good save from Thomas Sorensen to keep out Craig Taylor's header seven minutes before the break.

Sunderland continued to dominate after the restart, and the chances came thick and fast as Swindon found themselves under intense pressure.

Talia saved well from Clark in the 46th minute and Phillips forced him into two more with two delicate chips within minutes as the game started to open up.

Former Rangers midfielder Mark Walters had to get in a superb saving tackle to deny Clark on 61 minutes after the midfielder linked well with Quinn.

Clark found himself in a shooting position once again two minutes later, but this time sliced his effort well wide.

Johnston wasted s fine opportunity on 73 minutes when he broke from halfway, but with Quinn and Phillips screaming for a pass, he shot tamely straight at the keeper.

Clark came within inches of a deserved goal with a minute left when he fired a right foot shot past Talia but saw the ball cannon back off the crossbar and aware to safety.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Ball, Melville, Butler, Summerbee, Clark, Quinn (Dichio 83), Phillips, Johnston (Bridges 85).

Subs Not Used: Williams.

Booked: Johnston.

Goals: Quinn 28, Phillips 30.

Swindon: Talia, Kerslake, Hall (Gooden 41), Howe, Taylor, Borrows, Walters, Ndah, Onuora (Griffin 68), Hay, Davis (Robinson 68).

Booked: Walters.

Att: 41,304

Ref: P Robinson (Hull).