It surely means one of the big boys is going to drop into the Championship, unleashing a torrent of criticism and animosity in north or east London. Neither of those clubs should be fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. In truth, neither should Forest. They have far too many talented players to be in a relegation battle, but where Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Sean Dyche failed, Vitor Pereira has excelled. He has brought cohesion and solidity, allowing their attacking players to thrive. A season that once flirted with catastrophe could now end with safety and a major European trophy. Nobody is mocking Forest anymore.

Sunderland are well drilled and are one of the most athletic teams in the country. They know what they are good at and normally execute well. Not on this occasion. Which, given they are still competing for a European spot, was flabbergasting.

They played like a team with one eye on the summer – a number of their players have been linked with big-money moves – and after a bright start, could barely string more than a couple of passes together.

There was a lack of fight and a lack of pride.

After a wonderful season, in which survival was assured weeks ago, this was the sort of hammering many feared they would be on the end of back in August. That it has come in April offers some mitigation, but the hosts were woeful and hundreds of supporters appeared to leave the stadium before the first half had finished. It was hard to blame them.

Goalkeeper Robin Roefs made an excellent early save to deny Omari Hutchinson, who had cut inside and whipped a left-footed shot towards the bottom corner, but still conceded four before the break.

Sunderland might have taken the lead early on, but teenager Chris Rigg, having scored his first Premier League goal last weekend against Aston Villa from a similar position, hit a tame shot straight at Matz Sels. It unravelled from there.

Forest have found a way to play under Pereira that is reminiscent of Forest at their best under Nuno. They got the ball forward quickly and effectively. With Igor Jesus and Chris Wood paired in attack, they always had the numbers up top to cause trouble.

Sunderland’s defence looked fragile from the start and Forest took the lead from a well-worked set-piece: a short corner played back to Hutchinson whose dipping, inswinging cross landed perfectly on the head of Jesus at the far post. The Brazilian was jumping before Trai Hume could get airborne, and in trying to head the ball back across goal, it deflected in off the full-back’s head.