Under-par Town fell to their third defeat of the season as two second half goals gave Sunderland a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light. Goals from Stephen Elliott and Chris Brown took the Black Cats to third in the table, two points behind the Blues.
As expected Town were without Tommy Miller who failed to recover from his elbow injury. Dean Bowditch took over in a three-man attack. Heavy rain meant conditions were wet and likely to be difficult for goalkeepers.
Before either keeper had been seriously tested, Bowditch ended up in the book for a late tackle on Stephen Wright.
Sunderland midfielder Darren Carter shot over the bar in the 10th minute after Kelvin Davis had cleared a difficult backpass straight to him. The former Birmingham City play-off final penalty hero's effort was struck well but never close to a goal.
Two minutes later, Bowditch took the ball from around halfway before hitting a shot from the edge of the area which Thomas Myhre did well to keep hold of.
Just after the quarter hour, Elliott found Carter inside the area, the midfielder forcing Kelvin Davis into a save to his left. Davis did well again soon after, blocking at McCartney's feet after the Northern Irishman was fed by Carter.
In the 18th minute, Westlake played through Bent with the best Town pass of the half but Bent struck his shot across the face of goal.
Former Blue Marcus Stewart, given a warm reception by his old fans, came close to a goal in the 20th minute. Carter won the ball from Wilnis on the Town left and sent in a cross which the ex-Town striker put wide of goal.
On 28, Naylor blocked a Dean Whitehead shot inside the area. Town fans were increasingly becoming frustrated at referee Paul Robinson who had failed to give the Blues a number of seemingly obvious freekicks.
Ireland international defender Gary Breen might have opened the scoring in the 35th minute when he headed straight to Kelvin Davis from a Julio Arca corner.
Two minutes later, Bowditch felt that Breen had impeded him on the edge of the Sunderland box, but Mr Robinson was unimpressed and there were few on pitch protests.
Kelvin Davis pulled off the save of the half with seven minutes remaining, tipping Darren Carter's well-struck dipping half volley over the cross bar.
Two minutes ahead of the break, Pablo Couñago replaced Dean Bowditch who had picked up an ankle injury when tackled late by Jeff Whitley.
Just prior to the whistle, Elliott caught De Vos in possession but failed to seriously test Davis with his shot.
A largely scrappy half, not helped by the conditions which continued to deteriorate. Neither side had played particularly well, although Sunderland had probably had the better chances.
The Black Cats replaced Whitley with Liam Lawrence at the break. The Blues appeared to employ Darren Bent in a deeper role on the left with Kuqi and Couñago more advanced.
On 48 Couñago hit a weak shot which gave Myhre little trouble, before Arca and Diallo got their names in the referee's book for late tackles.
Kelvin Davis pulled off another fine save in the 56th minute, getting down well to his right to save Carter's low shot. A minute later Marcus Stewart was withdrawn and replaced with Chris Brown, the former Town player now 10 games without a goal.
Just before the hour, the home side went in front. Lawrence sent on a corner from the right and Elliott finished at close range.
The goal was deserved on the balance of play, particularly in the second half, with the Blues unable to impose themselves on the game.
On 68 Bent knocked the ball down to Kuqi but his shot deflected off a defender and ran harmlessly to Myhre.
Soon after, Elliott nodded over the bar after Carter had headed a deep corner back into the box.
In the 73rd minute, Lawrence shot from a tight angle on the right but the ball flew over the bar.
Two minutes later Sunderland went two goals up. Carter sent the ball across the box from the left and Brown netted from close range.
Arca shot wide as Sunderland went looking for a third goal. On 80 Town boss Joe Royle gave 16-year-old Darryl Knights a first taste of senior football, the striker or midfielder replacing Shekfi Kuqi.
Richard Naylor sent Darren Bent away in injury time but the striker rushed his shot, sending it high and wide, an incident which summed up Town's afternoon.
A very disappointing performance from the Blues, with players off their game throughout the side. The midfield, particularly in the second half, failed to get to grips with their Sunderland counterparts, while none of the strikers looked at their sharpest.
The pick of the Town players were Kelvin Davis, who made a number of impressive saves, while Richard Naylor was once again solid at the back.
Sunderland's clean sheet means that Town's record of scoring in every game stretching back to last season ends at 31 matches. The Blues will want to get back to winning ways when Brighton visit Portman Road next weekend.
Town: Davis, Diallo, Wilnis, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton, Westlake, Horlock, Bent, Kuqi (Knights 80), Bowditch (Couñago 43).