Ha'way Back When: THREE famous Sunderland victories at Ipswich Town's Portman Road

Just five wins in 24 visits to Suffolk do not bode well as the Black Cats look to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

But Sunderland can lean on a handful of productive away-days against the Tractor Boys in the modern era

Ipswich Town 1-2 Sunderland 24th January 2004: FA Cup 4th Round

After Tommy Smith had put them ahead, Julio Arca – still going strong today at non-league at South Shields – sealed Sunderland’s passage into the FA Cup fifth round for the second successive year.

A large Wearside following were made to sweat by Martijn Reuser’s late goal, but the Black Cats held on.

It represented the second hurdle overcome en route to the semi-finals, and defeat by Millwall.

Ipswich Town 0-2 Sunderland 29th August 1998: Division One

Goals from John Mullin and Division One’s top goalscorer that season, Kevin Phillips, kept up Sunderland’s impressive start to the season.

Victory at Portman Road was the Black Cats’ fourth in their opening five league games in a campaign when they stormed to the league title with a huge 105 points and only three defeats.

Ipswich 0–2 Sunderland 15th December 1984: Division One

Clive Walker’s late goal and a strike by defender Gary Bennett midway through the second half secured a win which left Sunderland a comfortable-looking 13th in the old First Division.

But less than five months – and just three league wins – later, and the Black Cats’ relegation was confirmed by Ipswich’s victory at Roker Park.

Famously, Sunderland also made it to Wembley that year, only to suffer more East Anglian agony in a League Cup final defeat by Norwich.