Sunderland blew away in-form Southampton to kickstart their Championship season in emphatic fashion at a raucous Stadium of Light.
Saints had won three and drawn one of their opening four games but never recovered once Jack Clarke stooped to head the home side in front in the first minute from a beautiful curling cross by Trai Hume.
The lead was doubled six minutes later when Pierre Ekwah took a pass on the edge of the box, was not closed down, and drilled a low shot which was deflected beyond a sprawling Gavin Bazunu by Flynn Downes.
Ekwah hammered in the Black Cats' third just before half-time, cutting out a Mason Holgate pass and curling a shot beyond Bazunu at his near post.