If Stuart Gray's undignified sacking from Southampton was another reminder of the brutal shortage of patience at the top level of football, it is reaching the stage where Peter Reid must consider himself thankful his chairman Bob Murray considers him "unsackable".
Reid, of course, does deserve better but it can not be denied Sunderland are treading water while Middlesbrough, slowly but surely, continue their revival under Steve McClaren, winning here with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes and despite having Paul Ince sent off with 19 minutes remaining.
After scoring with virtually their first attack, some of Boro's football was unrecognisable when compared to their usual fitful efforts.
It was a goal that may have Thomas Sorensen, the Sunderland goalkeeper, waking in a cold sweat for weeks to come. Carlos Marinelli's corner should have been a bread-and-butter catch for the Dane inside his six-yard area but, somewhat inexplicably, he flapped at the ball and missed it entirely.
Such a basic mistake invited trouble and Franck Queudrue, making his Riverside debut after signing on loan from Lens, ensured it would be a costly, even if the ricochet off his shoulder that looped the ball into the net carried more than an element of good fortune.
Suddenly Middlesbrough were playing with something resembling self-belief. Alen Boksic promptly teed-up Szilard Nemeth only for the Slovakian to be denied by Sorensen but the next time Middlesbrough's front pair combined to good effect resulted in their second goal.
This time Nemeth played the role of provider with a searching cross from the right that picked out Boksic unmarked and drifting at the far post. The Croatian's header was aimed at the opposite side of goal but Sorensen seemed to have it covered until a deflection off Jody Craddock's temple took the ball beyond the unfortunate goalkeeper.
Sunderland's greater sense of adventure in the second half was epitomised by Kevin Phillips, watched by Sven-Goran Eriksson, as he created two chances in as many minutes, only for Michael Gray and then Jason McAteer, making a subdued debut, to be thwarted by Mark Schwarzer.
Ince's crime was one of stupidity. Words had been exchanged with Niall Quinn but when the striker turned away the Middlesbrough man should have done likewise. Instead he cuffed his antagonist around the back of the neck and the referee Mark Halsey flourished the red card.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Greening, Mustoe, Ince, Marinelli (Johnston 66), Nemeth (Windass 73), Boksic (Wilson 86). Subs Not Used: Crossley, Cooper. Sent Off: Ince (71). Booked: Queudrue. Goals: Queudrue 2, Boksic 21.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Haas, Craddock, Varga, Gray, Schwarz (Bellion 75), McCann, McAteer, Arca, Quinn (Laslandes 90), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Thome, Williams, Macho. Booked: Schwarz, Quinn.
Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).
