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The last time we recorded a league win against them was over 36 years ago and on that occasion Paul Fletcher scored both goals in a 2-0 win and today he was in the Sky claptrapping box as they covered their first live Premier League game at Turf Moor.
There was another healthy and noisy crowd inside the Turf and after all the debate over who might be left out following the defeat at Liverpool we more than likely got the answer we were expecting when the teams were announced with Owen Coyle, for the fifth game in succession, naming the same starting eleven. The subs were also the same as those on the bench at Anfield.
I always thought this one might be a tough one for a number of reasons. We were certainly coming back home after two big defeats and I suspected it might be a different type of game than we'd previously had at home against Manchester United and Everton.
So it proved and we really struggled to get into the game in the opening exchanges as Sunderland dominated proceedings. It really was a very difficult start and we weren't seeing very much of the ball at all.
There could have been no complaints had the visitors taken an early lead but when the first goal came it was our way. Alexander played in Wade Elliott down the right hand side and as the midfielder got into the box across came Anton Ferdinand. Now I'm not quite sure what the Sunderland defender was actually trying to do but he certainly got nowhere near the ball and the assistant's flag was across his chest before Wade hit the deck.
It was as clear a penalty as any referee Chris Foy will be required to award all season and up stepped Grezza to hit home although his Scotland team mate Craig Gordon got too close for comfort.
The goal seemed to have an effect on Sunderland who lost their way for a while, but eventually they got their game together and they took control again.
We had to make an early change with Chris McCann suffering under a challenge from Michael Turner and unable to continue. Joey Gudjonsson came on for him, the same substitution as we'd made at Wembley and on that occasion we retained our 1-0 lead.
This time we didn't and Sunderland equalised when Andy Reid was given too much space down the left and he played in Darren Bent who made no mistake with Clarke Carlisle playing him onside.
Conceding a goal at Turf Moor is a rare event these days and this was the first since Carlisle himself put through his own goal against Palace back in March. We'd scored a total of 19 goals between Clarke's then and Bent's goal today.
No one could argue that they didn't deserve to be level, at least, and that took us to half time when John Mullin received a warm reception from both sets of fans before both teams returned unchanged from those who had ended the first half.
It was certainly a game of two halves although. Sunderland at no stage dominated play as they'd done in the first half and it was fairly even stuff until Owen Coyle played a couple of trump cards.
He firstly brought on David Nugent, for his home debut, in place of Martin Paterson and then replaced Steven Fletcher with Chris Eagles. The latter had been on the pitch for just three minutes when he played a major role in the Clarets going back in front.
He made a run down the right hand side before playing the ball to Tyrone Mears who in turn laid it back to Wade who crossed first time. It was a superb cross that found Nugent who made no mistake to head home his first Burnley goal.
It was so well worked down that right hand side and it was another picture goal for the Clarets who were now very much in the ascendancy.
Sunderland just couldn't get themselves back into the game. They were hitting the ball longer and as we moved into the last ten minutes or so they weren't really causing us any problems at all.
Still, it's nice to get another goal and see a team off and that's exactly what we did. Kenwyne Jones, on as a substitute, gave the ball away deep into our own half and it was picked up by Wade.
His run was so reminiscent of the run that brought the goal at Wembley. This time he turned to play it out to Mears on the right wing and he crossed low for Nugent with his back to goal. The loan man turned and curled a left footer in the corner and it really was game over.
Cue wild celebrations inside Turf Moor as the home fans knew that the points were in the bag and Nugent had just become the first Burnley player to score a brace in top flight football since Brian Flynn scored both in a 2-2 home draw against Aston Villa in February 1976.
There really was no way back for Sunderland and the fairy tale just keeps running as we continue our superb home start in the Premier League.
Looking for the man of the match it was certainly in defence during the first half whilst there is no way you can discount Wade Elliott for his second half performance nor David Nugent who came on and scored the two goals.
But I thought our two full backs were absolutely outstanding today. I've certainly no arguments with the award going to Mears at the ground but for me Stephen Jordan played as well as I've ever seen him play and he gets my vote.vIt's Spurs next in the league, and I'd love to get something there as a repayment for last January. Let's hope we can get 'Arry a bit twitchy on the touchline at White Hart Lane. After this second half performance we are more than capable of doing that.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Steven Fletcher (Chris Eagles 64), Wade Elliott, Chris McCann (Joey Gudjonsson 28), Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson (David Nugent 57). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Kevin McDonald, Fernando Guerrero, Steven Thompson.
Sunderland: Craig Gordon, Phil Bardsley, Michael Turner, Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney, Steed Malbranque (Kenwyne Jones 62), Lorik Cana, Kieran Richardson, Andy Reid, Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell (Jordan Henderson 75). Subs not used: Trevor Carson, Nyron Nosworthy, Paulo Da Silva, John Mensah, David Healy.
Yellow Cards: Michael Turner, Phil Bardsley, Kieran Richardson.
Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens).
Attendance: 20,196.