Sunderland 2-1 Norwich City: Jobe Bellingham curls winner for Black Cats

Festive spirit was in short supply as four players from either team had been cautioned by the referee as tensions rose. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris and Sainz had a confrontation on the touchline, while Duffy and his own keeper Angus Gunn even had a disagreement about who would take a Canaries free-kick.

With 20 minutes remaining, Isidor robbed Nunez of possession after a free-kick and raced clear only to steer over under pressure from the back-tracking Jack Stacey, with only Gunn to beat.

Cordoba received the 10th booking of the match, and his second, soon afterwards, for raising a high boot against Chris Mepham, having received his first caution for preventing a quick free-kick in the first half.

The hosts made them pay seconds later when the resulting set-piece dropped to Cirkin, whose backheel found Bellingham on the left of the area and he showed lovely poise to take a touch inside a defender onto his right foot and curl into the far corner past Gunn from an angle.

In the closing stages, Patterson kept the lead intact with a fine save to turn City substitute Barnes’ effort onto the post after a slip from Ballard, while Mayenda was twice denied a late third for Sunderland at the other end by Gunn.

The win saw the hosts remain unbeaten at home and matched the three-point haul of the top three, while the Canaries are down to 13th after an eighth away game without a win.