Victor Anichebe scored twice as Sunderland secured a priceless 3-0 victory over Hull City.
The powerful Nigerian striker was on target in the second half of what turned out to be the Black Cats' second successive Premier League win.
Sunderland followed up their 2-1 win at Bournemouth with another triumph to move off the bottom of the table.
Jermain Defoe had earlier put David Moyes' side in front with a coolly-taken goal, which was his 150th in the Premier League, at the end of a first half in which Hull arguably had the better chances.
And there was a nervous 10-minute wait for Sunderland after the interval when the Stadium of Light's floodlights failed.
Moyes cut a concerned figure during that period and admitted afterwards to feeling anxious that his plans for three precious points were about to be scuppered.
But the malfunction was fixed, and Anichebe - dubbed "a young Drogba" by his manager after the game - propelled Sunderland to victory.
Click the video above to see what Phil Thompson made of Sunderland's vital win.