Sunderland, beaten by Liverpool on Saturday and facing a trip to Manchester United this weekend, came a real cropper in the Carling Cup at Luton losing 3-0.
Three months ago Roy Keane's side clinched the Coca-Cola Championship title with a 5-0 win at Kenilworth Road, but although the two teams are two divisions apart now the match could hardly have been more different.
Goalkeeper Darren Ward, one of four changes made by Keane, was beaten first by a 15th-minute free-kick by David Bell and then twice by 37-year-old Paul Furlong, who lobbed him after 41 minutes and found the target again with 15 minutes remaining.
Sunderland were down to 10 men for the final 30 minutes, right-back Greg Halford sent off for deliberately handling the ball, his second bookable offence.
That the incident came in Luton's half rather than deep in defence summed up the visitors' woes.
"Premiership, you're having a laugh," was the refrain from the home fans from early on and they had no need to find a different song as the match progressed.
On this showing the clubs could be facing each other in league action again next season, but Keane did not have his full strength side out and is hoping to make improvements.
A Craig Bellamy double gave West Ham a 2-1 victory at League One outfit Bristol Rovers but victory came at a high price.
New signing Kieron Dyer suffered a suspected double fracture of his right leg early in the first half.
The midfielder, who was making just his third start for The Hammers since joining from Newcastle earlier this month, was stretchered off in the 13th minute at the Memorial Stadium.
Dyer crumbled to the ground following a challenge with Joe Jacobson on the right-hand side and immediately looked in severe pain.
The England international has been taken to hospital for scans but West Ham fear he has broken both bones in his lower leg.
West Ham have already seen fellow summer signing Julien Faubert ruled out until the new year and Dyer looks likely to join him on the sidelines for an extended period.
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