Sunderland piled the pressure on Norwich City head coach David Wagner as they condemned the Canaries to a seventh loss in nine games.
Hwang Ui-jo's 23rd-minute opener gave them hope in the first half, but Tony Mowbray's men completed the turnaround before half-time. Jack Clarke sealed the three points with a penalty after Shane Duffy's second slip-up of the match, worsening calls for Wagner to be sacked.
The hosts were in control in a dominant first half, coming close to opening the scoring when Pierre Ekwah's long shot was parried by George Long in the Norwich goal. Clarke then hit the outside of the post, before City went ahead against the run of play.
There was an element of controversy as Gabriel Sara looked to be in an offside position, but Kellen Fisher took full advantage to cut back for Hwang on the edge of the box. The South Korean hadn't scored for City yet, but he looked like goals were his second nature as he swept home for 1-0.
The Black Cats continued to probe, however, and were back level within 14 minutes. Trai Hume's strike looked to be testing Long when it headed goalward, but Shane Duffy's intervention gave him no chance.
Eight minutes later the turnaround was complete. Clarke had been a menace throughout the opening period and produced some fine work to beat numerous Norwich defenders, slipping through for Dan Neil to dink past Long.
Fassnacht hit the post against the run of play, but Sunderland dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Wagner briefly turned the tide by bringing Onel Hernandez and Borja Sainz on, but the Wearsiders were soon back in control.
Ekwah forced another good stop from Long, before a swift counter ended in a half-chance that Nazariy Rusyn couldn't finish.
The visitors attempted to find a way back into the game, but couldn't create any real chances before Clarke sealed the victory with a calm late penalty.
The defeat leaves City 17th in the Championship, with their last away win coming two months ago at Bristol City. They face Blackburn Rovers next in what's likely to be a toxic Carrow Road atmosphere.
SUNDERLAND:
Substitutes:
30. Bishop (GK)
3. Cirkin (on for Huggins, 77)
9. Hemir (on for Rusyn, 71)
11. Burstow
17. Ba (on for Roberts, 71)
21. Pritchard (on for Bellingham, 71)
23. Seelt
31. Rigg (on for Ekwah, 77)
46. Dack
Head Coach: Tony Mowbray
Bookings: Ekwah (24), O'Nien (41), Pritchard (89), Hemir (90+5)
Goals: Hume (37), Neil (45), Clarke (pen, 80)
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
51. Ansen (GK)
3. Stacey (on for Fisher, 73)
7. Sainz (on for Rowe, 62)
8. Gibbs
11. Idah (on for Gibson, 73)
20. Placheta
21. Batth
25. Hernandez (on for Fassnacht, 62)
26. Nunez (on for Forshaw, 45)
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Fassnacht (11), Giannoulis (61), Idah (90+6)
Goals: Hwang (23)
KEY MOMENTS
11 - Ekwah strikes from distance and Gibson clears after Long's parry.
13 - Rowe latches onto a long ball from his goalkeeper and breaks into the box, but his low cross is collected by Patterson.
20 - Clarke finds space after Fisher is found out of position, but the winger's curling effort hits the outside of the post and goes behind.
23 - GOAL NORWICH (Hwang): Sara is in an offside position and allows Fisher to run onto the ball. He drives to the byline and cuts back for Hwang, who sweeps a lovely finish past Patterson.
28 - Hwang flicks into Rowe, who lays off for Fassnacht. The Swiss cuts in and shoots with his left foot, but blazes over the bar.
34 - Neil tries to curl one from the edge of the box, but it's straight at Long and collected by the Norwich stopper.
37 - GOAL SUNDERLAND (Hume): Hume curls an effort goalward, and Duffy's deflection takes it away from Long and into the corner of the net.
45 - GOAL SUNDERLAND (Neil): Roberts beats numerous Norwich players before slipping through to Neil, who dinks past Long to complete the turnaround.
Half time - Sunderland 2-1 Norwich City
49 - Huggins fires at the near post from an acute angle and Long tips behind.
59 - Giannoulis' cross finds Fassnacht at the far post, but his header bounces off the framework and away.
64 - Ekwah tries another shot from distance which Long dives to turn behind.
66 - Hwang tries a shot from range and blasts over the bar.
76 - City counter sharply and Sainz finds Hwang, but he takes too many touches and can't get a shot away.
80 - GOAL SUNDERLAND (Clarke, pen): Duffy is robbed on the edge of his own area by Clarke, who is then tripped by McLean in the box. The winger then places straight down the middle to seal the win.
Full time - Sunderland 3-1 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Long 5, Fisher 5, Duffy 3, Gibson 5, Giannoulis 4, Forshaw 4, McLean 4, Fassnacht 4, Sara 5, Rowe 6, Hwang 7. Subs: Nunez 6, Hernandez 6, Sainz 5, Stacey 5, Idah 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 64pc-36pc
Shots: 13-8
On target: 7-1
Corners: 7-1
Fouls: 11-14
Added time: 3 mins/5 mins
REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse
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