Finishing 4th on 87 points with 26 wins (including a run of 21 games unbeaten) is a very different type of form to finishing 4th with 76 points and on a run of 5 straight defeats, but yeah looking at it simply, they both came 4th.
At least Southampton bossed the Championship and came up with a winning mentality and style of play. Sunderland have been garbage for about two months.
Fair play coming good at the right time, but I suspect they will be rock bottom