The sorting office staff are waiting, the postmen poised. The Royal Mail will be responsible for transporting the trophy, but it is Roy Keane who has delivered success to Wearside. Having stamped his own inimitable mark on the Stadium of Light, it has long appeared inevitable that the Irishman would lead the club to the Championship title. So it proved, with the club's first-place finish confirmed at Kenilworth Road a little before 3pm yesterday. The sole blight was the Football League's decision not to present the silverware to the Black Cats on another afternoon to savour. The thousands who made round trips totalling more than 500 miles deserved to see the prize awarded in a fitting fashion rather than having to await its arrival via courier. Yet it would have taken far more than a situation farcical in the extreme to detract from their enjoyment. Sunderland's supporters have seen such silverware before, of course. This was the fourth time in 11 years that the trophy has found a home in the Wearside club's cabinet. Yet never has it felt quite this good, never has it meant quite as much. The Black Cats faithful were in raptures as the final whistle approached with their team leading 4-0, yet still Sunderland were reliant on Birmingham's result at Deepdale. News of a Preston goal began to filter through at 2.45pm, moments before David Connolly's header made it five. From that point on, the celebrations were unbridled, the emotion extraordinary. All joined in. From players to supporters, from the officials to the coaching staff, all were united as one to mark a phenomenal end to a phenomenal season. Shirts were donated, balls kicked into the crowd. Boastful banners were produced, fists pumped and the players sprinted hand in hand towards their fans before diving to the turf. Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke swung from the crossbar, whilst all the time Keane stood back and watched in quiet contemplation, a satisfied expression on his face, taking it all in, savouring the moment and enjoying his maiden managerial honour. Long after the final whistle, the public address announcer appealed to the visiting supporters to start heading for the exits. It was a vain hope. Heroes old and new, all were celebrated. From Charlie Hurley in the directors' box to Niall Quinn, who eventually acceded to the demands of those who adore him, all who can claim to bleed red and white were honoured. All deserved it. The visiting fans were all around the ground, tickets having been begged, borrowed and, in some cases, perhaps stolen. Those here had gone to great lengths to do so. Keane and his players made sure the efforts were worthwhile with a stirring performance and a rousing result. Beach balls bounced and giant flags unfurled as Sunderland's supporters congregated to celebrate a momentous achievement prior to kick-off. Red-and-white shirts were everywhere, the occasion coloured with their enthusiasm, their excitement obvious. It might have been party time for the club's fans, but not so for the players. Keane had warned his side that this was a match he expected them to win. A manager who demanded high standards be maintained was not disappointed. From the first whistle, it was obvious the visitors were in the mood to inflict damage and to underline their class. None looked deadlier than Anthony Stokes, who scored the first and set the tone. The teenager has found his starting appearances limited since his £2m arrival from Arsenal but within four minutes he had demonstrated the skills that convinced Keane to invest such a sum. Starting on the left side of a three-pronged attack that ran riot throughout, Stokes started the move that ended with the visitors taking the lead, driving forward before exchanging passes with Daryl Murphy and lashing a fierce drive past the helpless Dean Brill. It was only his second goal in a red-and-white shirt, but it was a reminder that Stokes is a young player with vast potential and enviable qualities. Stokes had made an energetic start. He was not alone as Keane's attack-minded men set out to highlight why these clubs will be separated by two divisions next season. It took just two further minutes for the lead to be doubled as the Black Cats showed that although promotion had been secured seven days earlier, their ambitions had not been realised. This time Edwards was the provider, this time Murphy the marksman. Collecting the ball on the 18-yard line, the striker showed great skill to control, turn and fire an unstoppable shot past Brill. The Black Cats began the second period in the same ruthless manner as they had the first. This time, it took only 51 seconds for Brill to be beaten. Stokes was the architect, beating Keith Keane with an embarrassing ease before delivering the perfect cross for Murphy. In front of a delirious visiting support, the striker prodded the ball into the net to reach double figures for the season. Sunderland were rampant, Luton lamentable. Yet still Keane was not satisfied and Connolly and Stern John were both introduced. The lead was increased 12 minutes from time, Ross Wallace drilling an unstoppable 25-yard shot past the unfortunate Brill having replaced the injured Edwards just 180 seconds earlier. Still there was the fear a Birmingham goal would render such efforts irrelevant. The roar that went up when Preston scored was the afternoon's loudest. Connolly's late strike - the club's leading scorer glancing Leadbitter's free-kick in off a post - was the icing on the cake. The taste was sweet, and Sunderland's supporters feasted. | 
