Sunderland's impressive winning run came to an abrupt end on Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light. 

Tony Mowbray's side had moved into the playoffs after three successive wins against Southampton, QPR and Blackburn Rovers. 

But they struggled to break down a Cardiff City side that has been revitalised by new manager Erol Bulut. 

With time running out, the visitors scored a late winner through Mark McGuinness to move up to seventh in the table, with Sunderland dropping to fifth. 

Mowbray stuck with the same side that bested Blackburn the last time out but they couldn't produce the same result, with Cardiff keeper Jak Alnwick on top form to deny the hosts a breakthrough goal. 

Alex Pritchard had a great opportunity to open the scoring when Abdoullah Ba found him in the box following a superb through ball from Jobe Bellingham, but the midfielder saw his shot deflected wide.

Jack Clarke continued to dazzle down the left and he was denied by Alnwick after a mazy run that took him into the box.

The Cardiff shot-stopper was unbeatable and denied Pritchard again in the second half before the visitors completed the smash-and-grab with just three minutes of normal time remaining. 

A corner into the box was headed in by McGuinness for his first of the season, and there was no time for Sunderland to find an equaliser, as the Bluebirds earned a third successive win of their own.

The Black Cats will be looking to bounce back when they face struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Friday evening.