Sunderland crushed Bradford City to seal their third win in a row and put their bid for promotion firmly back on track.
The Black Cats simply played the Bantams off the park and were duly rewarded with goals from Gary Breen, Marcus Stewart and Julio Arca inside the first 35 minutes before Sean Thornton added his name to the score sheet after the break.
But it all could have been so different after Bradford almost got off to a dream start.
Dean Windass tried his luck with an audacious chip from 35 yards after Estonian international goalkeeper Mart Poom came off his line to make a clearance. However the striker failed to take advantage as his effort lacked both height and length.
But with their first attack, the visitors grabbed the opener after 10 minutes.
Francis was penalised for a foul on Kevin Kilbane. Thornton then curled the resulting free kick deep into the City box to find Breen who rose in acres of space to bullet a six-yard header past Mark Paston.
The visitors kept up the pressure and soon doubled their lead. Kilbane cut open the City defence with a telling pass. Stewart latched onto it and struck an angled drive from 13 yards into the bottom corner.
Oozing in class, Sunderland were pulling Bradford apart almost at will and it was no surprise when they effectively killed off the contest with their third goal on 31 minutes.
Arca robbed Michael Standing midway inside his own half charged upfield in a lightning break and ran to the edge of the City penalty area.
As Bradford's defenders stood back looking like statues, he delivered a fabulous chip and although Paston managed to get his fingers to the ball but he could not keep it out.
Bradford were almost given a lifeline towards the end of the first half when they were awarded a free kick on Sunderland's 18 yard line but Windass fluffed his chance after his tame effort struck the wall and went out for a corner.
After the break the visitors took their foot off the gas having sealed all the points but they were still the likelier of the two sides to score.
And 13 minutes from time they got their reward with a fourth when Kyle poked the ball goalwards. Paston instinctively blocked his efforts but Thornton ran the loose ball into the net.
Sunderland thoroughly deserved their win following this superb performance. On this evidence, promotion may not be beyond their reach after all.