Nathan Broadhead came off the bench to head home a stoppage-time winner and send Alex Neil’s side back into the League One play-off places.
The striker had missed the team’s last three matches with a hamstring injury but made the difference against a compact Gills defence.
Sunderland now have six games remaining as they try to secure a play-off place.
Our chief SAFC writer Phil Smith has delivered his verdict on how each Black Cats player fared at the Stadium of Light:
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