Dan Neil's dismissal pivotal as ten-man Sunderland are thrashed by Middlesbrough on Wearside

Sunderland's Dan Neil was sent off on the stroke of half-time with Middlesbrough taking full advantage

Dan Neil's needless sending off was the pivotal moment as ten-man Sunderland were thrashed at home by Middlesbrough - with the Teessiders recording their biggest-ever win on Wearside. Midfielder Neil was walking a fine line after being booked for a foul on Josh Coburn, and his furious protestations to referee Jarred Gillett on the stroke of half-time over a free-kick he felt his side should have been awarded led to a second yellow for dissent and then the inevitable red.

Up to that point, Sunderland had been the better side but Boro made their extra man count in the second half. Former Sunderland academy man Sam Greenwood, who is on loan at Boro from Leeds United, scored the opener just before the hour, and within two minutes Matt Crooks had doubled the visitors' lead.

Isaiah Jones added the third with a little under 20 minutes to go, and substitute Marcus Forss completed the rout in the last minute of the 90. It was a sobering result for the Black Cats with their goal difference taking a sizable hit.

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Boss Tony Mowbray and his players will now reflect on this result during the international break, before their Championship campaign resumes against Stoke City in a fortnight's time. Mowbray named an unchanged starting XI, sticking with the same side that beat Watford 2-0 on Wearside in midweek.

Boro boss Michael Carrick had planned on making two changes, in his case to the side that beat Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday at the Riverside, with Rav van den Berg and Crooks coming into the starting XI, in place of Tommy Smith and the injured Riley McGree. But van den Berg picked up an injury in the warm-up, meaning Smith was included after all.

Sunderland were the better side in a fiery opening 45 minutes, although Boro did go closest when they hit the woodwork. Abdoullah Ba, operating up front alongside Mason Burstow, cut in from the left and sent a shot over the bar in the opening ten minutes.

And midway through the half, Patrick Roberts embarked on a mazy run as he cut infield from the right-hand touchline leaving three Boro players trailing in his wake as he burst into the penalty area, but his low shot was diverted wide by the foot of goalkeeper Seny Dieng for a corner. Boro's most dangerous moment came on 25 minutes when a slip by Trai Hume allowed the ball to run through for Greenwood, his cross was beaten away by Anthony Patterson and when Josh Coburn tried to apply the finish Dan Ballard was there to get in a block which saw the effort come off the outside of the post and behind for a corner.

An injury to Niall Huggins saw Jenson Seelt come on for his home debut on the half-hour, with the Dutchman playing at right-back and Hume switching to the left. It took a fine challenge from Jones to stop Burstow as the striker galloped into the penalty area when Sunderland broke from a Boro corner.

But a minute later Jones was booked for a cynical foul on Ba as the Frenchman bore down on Dieng's goal, with the presence of a covering defender sparing his teammate a red card. In injury time at the end of the first half, Neil - who had earlier been booked for a poor challenge on Coburn - was dismissed, with the ref brandishing a second yellow card and then a red.

And just as the half-time whistle went, there was a flare-up after Coburn led with his elbow in a challenge on Ballard, and both players were booked. Mowbray sent on Adil Aouchiche at half-time in place of Burstow, but Sunderland were on the backfoot in the second period as Boro made their man advantage count.

Patterson made a brilliant save to deny Crooks after the Boro man had got on the end of Jones' low cross inside the six-yard box. But there was nothing Patterson could do on 58 minutes when Boro centre-back Dael Fry found himself on the left wing, and his cross to the near post was touched in by Greenwood.

And two minutes later Boro doubled their lead, with Jones getting to the byline on the right inside the box and his low ball across the face of goal found Crooks who applied the finish. At that stage, it looked like Boro would score every time they came forward.

They duly added the third goal on 73 minutes when substitute Morgan Rogers released Jones in the right-hand channel, he raced into the box and cut inside Ballard before slotting home. That was the cue for many Sunderland fans to head for the exits, but Boro did add a fourth goal in the 90th minute.

The ball was worked to substitute Latte Lath inside the penalty area on the left, his shot was beaten away by Patterson but the rebound fell to fellow sub Forss and he tucked it into the net.

How they lined up

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Huggins (Seelt 30), Neil, Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke (Rusyn 76), Burstow (Aouchiche 46), Ba (Rigg 63). Subs not used: Bishop, Hemir, Bennette, Triantis, Taylor

Booked: Neil, Ballard, Roberts, Clarke

Sent off: Neil

Middlesbrough: Dieng, Smith, Fry, McNair, Engel (Bangura 82), Jones (Forss 75), Barlaser, Greenwood (Silvera 75), Hackney, Crooks (Rogers 67), Coburn (Latte Lath 67). Subs not used: Glover, Howson, Lenihan

Booked: Jones, Greenwood, Coburn,

Referee: Jarred Gillet (Merseyside)

Attendance: 43,584