The attendance of 47,350 is the biggest in the league outside of the Premiership anywhere in the country since the Sheffield derby on Boxing Day 1979 in the old Third Division.
But with Stoke setting their sights no higher than damage limitation, the Black Cats struggled to break down a dour rearguard with clear-cut chances few and far between.
Although Steve Simonsen was far from overworked, the visitors goalkeeper kept his side on level terms at the break with a string of fine saves.
Chris Brown was held on the edge of the penalty area by Michael Duberry and, from the free-kick, Simonsen saved well from George McCartney. Dean Whitehead was only inches away with a shot on the run following good work by Julio Arca and Simonsen then turned a fierce drive from McCartney over the bar in style.
Stoke, however, squandered two great chances within a minute just before the interval. Rookie goalkeeper Ben Alnwick could only palm out a left-wing cross from Dave Brammer and Karl Henry blasted high and wide before Chris Greenacre beat Steve Caldwell only to pull his shot across the face of goal.
Simonsen produced a stunning one-handed save from Liam Lawrence on the resumption but was well beaten in the 56th minute. Brown was fouled by Duberry and, from Lawrence's free-kick, Robinson's looping header dropped just inside the upright.
Skipper Gary Breen missed a good chance to increase the lead, stubbing his shot into the ground and the ball bounced over the bar when Lawrence's corner was only partially cleared.
Leading scorer Marcus Stewart never looked as though he was going to add to his 17 goals in his farewell match for the Black Cats, but when the Championship trophy was presented to Breen at the end of the match, the reception for Stewart was tremendous.