Phil Parkinson lavished praise after they kept their cool to see off Bristol Rovers with three goals inside the final 20 minutes.
Lynden Gooch broke the deadlock after Abu Ogogo had been dismissed for an off-the-ball incident with Chris Maguire.
That moment seemed to inspire the Scotsman as he assisted all three goals for Sunderland, with Charlie Wyke and Luke O’Nien adding some gloss to the victory.
Hear from Parkinson by clicking play in the video panel above.