With 15 minutes to go at Elland Road on Monday night, Sunderland looked like they were going to put a cat amongst the pigeons in the race for automatic promotion.
By full-time the Black Cats were left slumped on the floor after a shattering late defeat.
The Wearsiders ultimately ran out of energy in the face of a relentless opponent, in a hostile atmosphere.
Now eight points off the top two with 13 games to play but 15 clear of seventh-placed Coventry, it looks almost certain like it will be the play-offs for them.