Sunderland were left to regret a major opportunity as ten-man Brighton escaped the Stadium of Light with a 2-0 win this afternoon.

The Black Cats spent more than half an hour with an extra player, yet could not find the cutting edge needed to turn pressure into goals.

Maxim De Cuyper broke the deadlock early in the second half before Jaouen Hadjam finished the job in stoppage time.

Brighton looked dangerous whenever Sunderland surrendered possession, although Robin Roefs dealt with Diego Gomez’s early effort. At the other end, Wilson Isidor came closest before the break when he met Enzo Le Fee’s delivery at the near post and sent the ball against the outside of the upright.

Nordi Mukiele also tested Bart Verbruggen from distance, while Brighton struck the frame of the goal late in the half through Pascal Struijk.

Thomas Meunier’s first-half withdrawal added another concern for Regis Le Bris, but his side still entered the interval level.

That changed in the 53rd minute, when Pascal Gross found space on the right and picked out De Cuyper, who controlled the pass before beating Roefs at his near post.

Brighton’s lead was followed almost immediately by a major opening for Sunderland.

Struijk brought down Isidor as the striker looked ready to race clear, with a VAR review leading to the defender’s dismissal.

The home side pushed Brighton back from that point and Granit Xhaka went close from the resulting free-kick, forcing Verbruggen across his goal.

Malick Fofana also tested the goalkeeper, but too much of Sunderland’s play was slow or predictable against a visiting defence which dropped deep and protected its penalty area.

Hadjam delivered the final blow in the 93rd minute, punishing the space Sunderland left while chasing an equaliser. It sealed a third successive Premier League defeat for Le Bris’ men and made their failure to exploit Struijk’s dismissal even harder to accept.

Gary Bennett criticises Granit Xhaka as Sunderland waste Brighton lifeline

Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett felt Xhaka’s performance reflected the wider problem.

The experienced midfielder has set the tone for the Black Cats since arriving on Wearside, but his passing didn't carry its usual control.

Xhaka still tried to drag the hosts back into the game and remained one of their likeliest sources of an equaliser from a dead-ball situation.

However, this was an afternoon when Sunderland needed their senior players to bring calm, raise the tempo and make the one-man advantage count.

The Black Cats finished with 62 per cent possession, seven corners and 12 attempts, but only three efforts tested Verbruggen.

Those numbers underline the issue for Le Bris, as Sunderland controlled all of the territory without truly controlling the match.

One subdued performance doesn't change Xhaka’s importance to the side, yet Bennett’s verdict should sting because the midfielder’s standards are so high.

Sunderland now need their leader, and the players around him, to respond quickly.