Ross Stewart and Amad Diallo were on target as Sunderland overcame 10-man Middlesbrough in the Wear-Tees derby.
Stewart tapped in on the rebound after Zack Steffen had saved his penalty early in the second half.
Boro, depleted by Dael Fry's dismissal for conceding the spot-kick, fought hard but could not find a response.
Diallo sealed the victory, exchanging passes with Patrick Roberts and thumping in the Black Cats' second nine minutes from time.
Sunderland's victory lifts them to ninth place in the Championship table, just a point behind Boro who drop down to sixth.
The hosts looked the more potent side in attack and should have gone ahead in the ninth minute when Steffen's careless clearance flew straight to Diallo, but he scuffed his finish across goal with only the keeper to beat.