The pre-match pyrotechnics may have fizzled out, but Sunderland's season is proving more explosive by the day.

Yesterday's stunning second-half display floored Ipswich Town, propelled Peter Reid's team back up to third - level on points with Arsenal - and had Sunderland fans drooling at the prospect of European football next season.

"Easy; you said that, not me," said a smiling Reid. "Last year the press had us challenging for Europe and we didn't win for 11 games."

Ipswich's manager George Burley was more prepared to elaborate on what Wearside was thinking. "They are a very powerful side on a great run," he said. "I can see them up there at the end of the season."

Sunderland's blistering display after the interval apparently had nothing to do with Reid's halftime talk and instead centred on one striker regaining his best form, Kevin Phillips, and another who has had little opportunity to generate any form at all.

Danny Dichio was making his first Premiership start for Sunderland after almost three years at the club.

It was Dichio's flick which bypassed the floundering Titus Bramble and Mark Venus just before the hour, allowing Phillips to burst through the rearguard and place his fifth goal in three games beyond Richard Wright.

Then the England striker wriggled free of Venus and squared the ball unselfishly for Dichio to score his first of the season.

"I though Danny was outstanding," said Reid. "He's an underrated player and I wouldn't have bought him if I didn't fancy him."

To raucous celebrations, the substitute Stefan Schwarz capped the win with a volley from Darren Williams' cross.

Ipswich's sparky entrance merited their fifth-minute reward. Matt Holland crossed low for Marcus Stewart, outsprinting the on-rushing Thomas Sorensen, to score his 14th goal of the season.

Yet from such a platform the visitors stumbled. Julio Arca started the goal rush when he curled a free-kick sumptuously into the top corner.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Craddock (Varga 70), Thome, Hutchison, McCann (Williams 68), Rae, Arca (Schwarz 74), Dichio, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Macho, Quinn. Booked: Craddock. Goals: Arca 25, Phillips 57, Dichio 63, Schwarz 88.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Wilnis (McGreal 82), Bramble, Venus, Hreidarsson, Clapham (Reuser 58), Holland, Jermaine Wright, Scowcroft, Stewart, Armstrong. Subs Not Used: Branagan, Johnson, Magilton. Booked: Stewart, Bramble, Wilnis, Venus, Hreidarsson. Goals: Stewart 5.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).