Sunderland started Good Friday in 12th place of the Championship table, going up against a Cardiff City side who sat in 11th, but five points ahead of the Black Cats.
One team was looking down the table and the other up the table ahead of kick off.
Sunderland had just a nine-point gap between themselves and the drop zone ahead of this game, having not won in seven.
But Mike Dodds will have breathed a huge sigh of relief at full-time after guiding his temporary side to a 2-0 win.
Sunderland beat Cardiff City in the Championship
Sunderland opened the scoring through Adil Aouchiche.
The Frenchman has impressed in recent weeks, starting the last two games now and scoring his second goal of the Championship campaign with a confidently-taken penalty.
Jobe Bellingham then scored his seventh league goal of the season, darting through the penalty area and latching on to an Aouchiche ball into the box.
The win keeps Sunderland in 12th place of the table with seven games left to go now.
Jude Bellingham hails Sunderland after Cardiff City win
And watching his brother get on the scoresheet once again was Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham.
England hero Bellingham has been in attendance at the Stadium of Light on several occasions this season, not hiding his admiration for the club and his brother too.
And after full-time today, Bellingham posted this message on X:
