Middlesbro - 0 Sunderland - 2: Mick McCarthy and the population of Wearside woke with a familiar headache yesterday: how after two years, 10 months and 10 days could Sunderland win a match in the Premiership?

This morning McCarthy and Wearside will again have a collective sore head but for the first time in almost three years it will be caused by pleasure rather than pain.

For the first time since December 15th, 2002, against Liverpool, 27 Premiership matches ago for Sunderland - interspersed by two seasons in the Football League - the team tasted victory and that it came over rivals from the North-east made it all the sweeter.

It would have been sweet as sugar anyway but Middlesbrough's budget, form - they beat Arsenal here a fortnight ago - and recent regional dominance made Sunderland's achievement all the more admirable. "We've got the monkey off our back," said a relieved McCarthy, who then related a comment from the goalkeeping coach. "Tim Carter said: 'It's not a monkey, it's Planet of the Apes' - it's a nice feeling to come in and explain how we've won. We have played well in the Premiership and haven't won - the important part today was learning how to win. Hopefully that will give us confidence. There has been self-belief but the longer it gets without a win, it can be demoralising."

McCarthy will receive congratulations from across England and Ireland. In that sense it was a local derby with national issues, and "McClaren for England" was the Middlesbrough fans' sarcastic chant at their own manager, yet to sign that new club contract. There were other by-products beyond boos for Steve McClaren, with another felt across the Pennines where Everton dropped to the foot of the table.

Sunderland's next aspiration will be to stay away from there and with West Ham at home next Saturday the Wearsiders will hope they can win again before the international break. December 2001 was the last time Sunderland won consecutive Premiership matches. This was a day when all Sunderland's miserable records were to be reviewed. Their last away win was in August 2002 at Elland Road, a venue that demonstrates the passage of time, as well as the scorer, Jason McAteer.

Yesterday Tommy Miller struck in the second minute to give Sunderland the lead. Nine days ago Gary Breen had scored an early goal against West Bromwich only for Sunderland to collapse in the 90th minute to Zoltan Gera's equaliser.

Yesterday, though under pressure from Boro, particularly in the first half, once Julio Arca made it 2-0 with an exquisite 62nd minute free-kick, Sunderland were never going to relinquish their advantage.

Boro did not seriously threaten Sunderland's Kelvin Davis until the 90th minute, when George Boateng was foiled, and scrutiny will fall on how the home side, with Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Fabio Rochemback all on the pitch, failed to score. Davis was mainly the answer, the former Ipswich goalkeeper redeeming his reputation with saves on the half-hour from James Morrison and Aiyegbeni.

Of the fans reaction to him, McClaren was philosophical. "I can understand their frustration, that's football - one week ago you're the best manager in the Premier League, the next you're the worst."

Guardian Service