Liam Palmer helped secure Wednesday's survival with his first-half strike
Sheffield Wednesday made sure of their Championship status with a comfortable victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Liam Palmer opened the scoring on 29 minutes before Josh Windass doubled the lead seven minutes later.
Wednesday end the season in 20th, three points clear of the bottom three after three wins in their final five games.
Sunderland finish up in 16th, just three points ahead of their opponents, despite spending much of the season chasing a play-off spot.
Wednesday carved out the first chance inside 15 minutes, dispossessing the hosts before Josh Windass crossed to the back post for the onrushing Anthony Musaba, who couldn't guide his shot on target.
Just before the half hour mark, Palmer slammed the visitors into the lead. Incisive build-up play involving Windass and Bannan released him inside the box, and he finished from a tight angle.
With half time in sight, a crucial moment came for Sunderland. Clarke struck the bar, before Windass doubled Wednesday's lead, finishing well from Pol Valentin's cross on 38 minutes.
Bannan attempted to add a third seven minutes into the second half, but his shot was blocked by a defender.
James Beadle then made a good save at the other end to Adil Aouchiche, as Sunderland attempted to increase the tempo and haul themselves back into the game.
But it was a difficult afternoon for the Black Cats, summing up a terrible second half of the season.
Wednesday, though, partied with their fans as the final whistle blew. With just three points from 11 games upon Danny Rohl’s arrival in October, their remarkable recovery has been completed.
Post-match reaction
Sunderland head coach Mike Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:
“The second period in charge hasn't gone as well as I'd like. We created more than enough chances for the scoreline to be different.
"But the two goals we conceded are almost identical - you can't allow people to run off the shoulder especially in those positions.
“We are where we are in terms of the table and we deserve it. We haven't given the fans enough to cheer about and we haven't ultimately been good enough, not just in my spell but throughout the season.”
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl:
"I do not think it is normal to stay in the league when you have just won one game in 19 matchdays from the beginning of the season. It says a lot about the mentality of our players that they have turned things around.
"There has been a real togetherness in the six months that I have been here, and we all have to be happy and proud about what we have achieved.
"We said we maybe needed eight wins with 16 games to go, but if you look now, eight wins would not have been enough.
"We took nine wins from those 16 games, and I think the form table from those games shows us in the top three or four in the league. That says a lot."
