India, Feb. 4 -- Habib Diarra turned in a decisive first half performance to set Sunderland on its way to a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Burnley in the Premier League. The midfielder signed from Strasbourg last summer scored one and had another deflected into the net during a commanding first half on Monday, and Chemsdine Talbi completed the scoring for the Black Cats.

Sunderland's unbeaten home run was extended to 12 games - a record for a promoted side - and the team moved above Fulham and Everton into eighth place in the table. There was a healthy dose of fortune about Diarra's ninth-minute opener, as his right-foot shot took a nasty deflection to wrong-foot Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The touch was later given as an ow...