Burnley's hopes of securing Premier League survival were dealt a potentially fatal blow on Saturday afternoon, suffering a humiliating 4-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Sunderland at a stunned Turf Moor.
The Clarets, under manager Vincent Kompany, knew only a victory would suffice to keep their slender survival hopes alive. However, they were comprehensively outplayed by a clinical Sunderland side, who exposed defensive frailties throughout the match.
The visitors took a commanding lead with first-half goals from Pierre Ekwah and a stunning strike from Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Real Madrid superstar Jude. Any hopes of a Burnley comeback were extinguished early in the second half when Dreyer extended the Black Cats' advantage.
Although Josh Brownhill managed to pull a goal back for the home side, offering a brief glimmer of hope, any momentum was instantly killed off as Sunderland's Nazariy Rusyn netted a fourth to seal a comprehensive victory.
The result leaves Burnley rooted in the relegation zone, a significant 11 points from safety with only four matches remaining in the season. The mathematics now point towards an immediate return to the Championship, a bitter pill to swallow for the Turf Moor faithful.
For Sunderland, the three points provide a vital boost in their own battle to secure their status in England's top flight, moving them further away from the dreaded drop zone.
