Stoke City welcomed Gus Poyet's improving Sunderland to the Britannia Stadium this afternoon hoping to prevent matching their longest ever Premier League winless run of eight games.
Charlie Adam, restored to the starting lineup after scoring a last-minute equaliser against Swansea a fortnight ago, gave the Potters a 30th-minute lead when he finished tidily from Steven N'Zonzi's intelligent cutback.
Things went from bad to worse for Sunderland as Wes Brown was controversially sent off moments later for a forceful tackle on Adam, a decision which incensed Black Cats boss Poyet on the touchline.
The visitors pressed for an equaliser in the second half, but were caught out on the break as Stoke made the points secure when N'Zonzi calmly tucked the ball under Vito Mannone on 81 minutes.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Staffordshire.
Afternoon, all. A rather depressing and humbling international break for England fans is over, but you can now turn that frown upside down, because the Premier League is back!
Out-of-form Stoke's meeting with Gus Poyet's improving Sunderland is one of five 3pm kickoffs in the top flight, and surely the most important of them for the teams at the bottom of the table.
The home side are just one place above the relegation zone, where Sunderland have been all season. But Poyet has breathed fresh life into the Black Cats, who appear to be on the way up.
Team news coming your way shortly...
STOKE: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Adam, Arnautovic; Crouch
SUBS: Sorensen, Muniesa, Palacios, Shea, Assaidi, Etherington, Wilkinson
SUNDERLAND: Mannone; Celustka, O'Shea, Brown, Bardsley; Giaccherini, Ki, Colback, Larsson, Johnson; Fletcher
SUBS: Cabral, Gardner, Altidore, Roberge, Borini, Mavrias, Pickford
Gus Poyet has the luxury of naming an unchanged Sunderland side, which is refreshing for the Wearside outfit, who were chopping and changing under Paolo Di Canio at the start of the term.
That means Steven Fletcher continues in the lone striker role, but the Black Cats have Jozy Altidore and Fabio Borini as attacking reinforcements on the bench should the Scot require some support.
Vito Mannone continues to deputise in goal for the injured Kieran Westwood. Poyet has recalled Jordan Pickford from his loan spell at Burton Albion to be Sunderland's substitute stopper.
Both skipper Lee Cattermole and left-back Andrea Dossena miss a second match through suspension after being shown first-half red cards in the 1-0 defeat to Hull City three weeks ago.
John O'Shea is again handed the captaincy in Cattermole's absence. He is partnered at centre-back by Wes Brown, who was outstanding against City on his return from an 18-month injury layoff.
Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson, who witnessed first hand the genius of Cristiano Ronaldo in midweek, will be hoping to bounce back from his country's failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Onto the hosts, who give a start to Charlie Adam after the Scottish international scored the stoppage-time penalty that salvaged them a 3-3 draw at Swansea City last time out.
He replaces Stephen Ireland in one of two midfield changes made by Mark Hughes, with Glenn Whelan also coming into the team at the expense of Honduran ball-winner Wilson Palacios.
Neither Kenwyne Jones or Marc Wilson are available to the Potters after picking up shoulder and hip injuries respectively on international duty. Marc Muniesa and Brek Shea are called up to the squad.
Stoke were the Premier League's lowest scorers until netting six times in their last three games. Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is no longer the club's joint-leading top-flight marksman!
HEAD TO HEAD: Sunderland have not lost any of the last four Premier League meetings between these two sides, with both of last season's fixtures ending in draws.
Gus Poyet has been very vocal this week in insisting that he will be the man, and not director of football Roberto de Fanti, who decides which reinforcements Sunderland bring in this January.
In-fact, the Uruguayan threatened to quit his new post if that isn't the case.
"The player has to be the right one for me - If not, I'm not going to accept it," the 46-year-old told reporters. "We talked about a position the other day and considered four players. I picked two. It was simple. One of the other two was a definite no. If that one is coming, I won't be here.
"I've told him my opinions about everybody and I've told him what I think we should be looking for. For me, so far, there are no problems.
"I knew what the situation was and I accepted it, and so far I have got no complaints, but to prove it to everybody we need to wait until we get through at least one transfer window."
Just under 10 minutes until kickoff here in the Potteries...
ONE TO WATCH: Peter Crouch seems to now be Hughes's first-choice striker after starting the campaign on the bench. Stoke have yet to score a headed goal this season, but they remain a threat from set pieces and I fancy the 6ft 7in forward to end that record today.
PREDICTION: Sunderland are certainly playing with more confidence under Gus Poyet, and although Stoke have struggled to pick up wins this season, they are still difficult to beat at home. I am going to sit on the fence today and predict a draw. It could be goalless, but I'll plump for 1-1.
We are underway at the Britannia Stadium...
Sunderland are not pressing the Stoke back four, who have had plenty of possession in the early stages. The visitors seem to be inviting the Potters to play the long ball, but they haven't as yet.
There seems to be an early injury concern for Stoke, who have Marko Arnautovic hobbling his way up and down the left flank. Hughes sends Matthew Etherington down the touchline to warm up.
BLOCK! Giaccherini exploits a big gap between Stoke's midfield and defence by travelling with the ball unchallenged to the edge of the box. He shifts it right to Johnson, who is slowed up by a couple of covering Stoke defenders. He lays the ball off to Colback to have a side-footed strike from the edge of the box, which Brown diverts behind with his foot for a corner.
Stoke have a free kick 45 yards out by the right touchline. Adam delivers it, left footed, but there is far too much on it. The angle and the dip on the cross nearly deceives Mannone, though, as the ball lands on the roof of the net. Mannone looks unconcerned, but it gave Poyet a fright!
Cameron shows the type of footwork more accustom with Brazilian playmakers on the right flank, before prodding a cross into the box. Arnautovic controls it and tries to get a shot away on the turn. The ball is poked away from him by a Sunderland body, and nearly falls to Walters before it is cleared.
SAVE! Johnson collects the ball deep on the right and dinks it over the top of the Stoke defence. Fletcher beats the offside trap and brings the ball down brilliantly. With his back to goal, he shoots on the turn, but Begovic had charged off his line to make a great block with his body.
A corner is cleared to Celustka on the halfway line and again Sunderland look for Fletcher over the top. He attempts to flick the ball over Begovic, and his effort deflects off the head of Shawcross. It lands on Huth's foot and begins to slowly dribble towards the vacant net before Shawcross hoofs clear.
Sunderland have already had four corners this afternoon, but Stoke, who have shown a fragility when it comes to defending set pieces this season, have so far managed to deal with them.
PENALTY APPEAL! Great hold up play by Crouch eventually leads to Arnautovic chesting the ball down and volleying towards goal from 20 yards. It is well struck and blocked by the arm of O'Shea. It didn't seem to be deliberate from the Black Cats skipper, but his hand was outstretched. I've seen them given.
Having been foiled by the hand of O'Shea a few minutes ago, Arnautovic takes aim again, but this time it was the home fans in row z sticking their arms up to prevent it from hitting them in the face.
Adam picks the ball up on the halfway line, turns and immediately looks to release Pieters down the left. It's great vision, but the pass is just overhit and runs out as the Dutchman chases it down.
GOAL! STOKE 1-0 SUNDERLAND (CHARLIE ADAM)
On his 100th Premier League appearance, Adam gives Stoke the lead on the half-hour mark! It is a lovely team move, started by Crouch on the right touchline, who played into the feet of Cameron. He dinks a ball over the top for N'Zonzi inside the right edge of the box, from where the tall midfielder may have opted to get a shot away. Instead, though, he shows a mature head and cuts the ball back for Adam to beat Mannone with a composed 16-yard finish for his third of the season.
That's two in two now for the former Liverpool midfielder, who is obviously in a confident mood as he attempts to double his tally with a 25-yard effort with his weaker foot, which is blocked.
RED CARD! (WES BROWN) A terrible couple of minutes for Sunderland, as they go down to 10 men shortly after going behind. Brown is the man dismissed for a pretty high lunge on Adam. It wasn't particularly reckless, but it was forceful and Brown went in with raised studs, which is always a risk these days. Gus Poyet is absolutely incensed with referee Kevin Friend's decision!
SUBSTITUTION: Poyet, still very animated, responds by bringing on a central defender, one of Di Canio's summer signings, Valentin Roberge. Giaccherini is the attacking player sacrificed.
Stoke are well on top now and are searching for a second before the break. Walters back-heels for the overlapping Cameron, whose cross nearly finds Crouch, but O'Shea shepherds the ball behind.
Sunderland are all over the place here. Bardsley's risky switch of the play is intercepted by Arnautovic, who may have looked to play in Crouch early had he been able to control the bouncing ball. Instead he shifts the ball inside to Adam, who drags a right-footed shot some distance wide.
We are now entering first-half stoppage time, of which there will be TWO minutes. Can Sunderland hang on until the break? Poyet and his players would love the chance to try and regroup.
HALF-TIME: STOKE 1-0 SUNDERLAND
Sunderland have a real uphill battle on their hands, but Poyet will argue that their second-half task has been made more difficult by what he sees as Kevin Friend's unjust dismissal of Wes Brown.
What at first looked like a fairly high tackle by the former Manchester United defender was actually pretty clean. He certainly took the ball, and may have caught Adam on the ankle, but, after the benefit of a few replays, it seems that it was not dangerous or high enough to warrant a red card.
Of course, referee Kevin Friend does not have the luxury of looking back on it several times as we do, and in live action, he deemed it to be a sending off. It rubbed salt into Sunderland wounds as they had just surrendered their parity minutes before, when Stoke's top scorer Adam applied the finishing touch to a great Potters move to give them the lead on the half-hour mark.
STATS: The hosts have shaded possession with 52%, with each team having only one shot on target. Sunderland's six corner have yielded nothing. The most important figure is in Stoke's favour.
The action has resumed in the Potteries...
With Giaccherini off, it is now doubly important for Sunderland's midfielders to get up and support Fletcher. Colback does so here, but the Scottish forward's layoff is just behind his teammate.
CHANCE! A minute after seeing his own shot comfortably held by Mannone, Walters, from a similar position on the right edge of the box, stands a cross up for Crouch. There is not much pace on the delivery, and although the former England international gets above O'Shea, he cannot generate any power on his header, which drops into the floor and into Mannone's gloves.
Cameron again shows that he has a trick or two up his sleeve, rolling his foot over the ball to wrong foot Bardsley and cross with the outside of his boot. The delivery flies across a really dangerous area, but is just in front of both Crouch in the middle and a diving Walters at the back post.
SHOT! Sunderland have set up to play on the break now, and they counter in numbers here before Bardsley cuts in from the left and unleashes a low drive which Begovic does well to gather.
Walters has joined Crouch up top and the Potters are delivering as many crosses as they can. Cameron's service from the right has been excellent, but this time Adam whips a ball in from the opposite flank which Roberge clears on the stretch as Walters stooped to attack with his head.
This has been a good few minutes for Sunderland, who, after being starved of the ball, have stalled Stoke's attacking momentum and won a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions themselves. With Larsson over the ball, a set piece may be their best chance of finding an equaliser.
CHANCE! Larsson was over their latest free kick, 22 yards out to the right of centre, but instead Johnson strikes it straight into the wall. Stoke take the chance to counter as Arnautovic releases Adam, who does not have the pace to get by Roberge so chooses to shoot early, only to slice horribly wide.
Cameron is again Stoke's outlet in an advanced position on the right wing, and he crosses just behind Crouch, who does well to win the header but can only direct it onto the roof of the net.
SUBSTITUTION: Poyet throws on an extra striker in the shape of Tyne-Wear derby hero Fabio Borini. Celustka makes way as Colback drops into defence and Bardsley switches to right back.
BOOKING: Pieters is cautioned for obstructing O'Shea's forward run, and from the resultant free kick, Larsson delivers a pacey ball towards the far stick, only for Begovic to intervene by punching clear.
SHOT! Borini plays into the feet of Johnson and goes for the return pass, but the winger shifts the ball onto his left foot and drives a low shot a couple of yards wide of Begovic's left post.
Sunderland want a red card for Begovic, who charges off his line to clear with a raised foot as Fletcher ran in on goal. The Black Cats forward goes down clutching his head, which Begovic may have caught but certainly made every effort to avoid making contact with. Referee Friend takes no action.
Superb defending by Cameron in the right-back area. Borini had made a run in behind him and was favourite to get onto Ki's ball over the top, but the American international muscled the Liverpool loanee off it and then won his team a free kick by enticing the Italian into a silly foul.
Stoke's crossing this afternoon has been superb and the latest of Adam's deliveries from the left is fizzed into the six yard box, but Walters had pulled off his marker, rather than ran to the back post.
BOOKING: Arnautovic has somewhat of a reputation for ill discipline. We are yet to see that in England, but here he shoves Bardsley off the ball and is shown a deserved yellow card.
GOAL! STOKE 2-0 SUNDERLAND (STEVEN N'ZONZI)
Sunderland pay the price for pushing bodies forward in search of an equaliser, as N'Zonzi puts this game beyond them. Crouch is allowed to run into space after coming inside from the left, and picks out the run of N'Zonzi, who is in acres of space in the right channel. The midfielder takes one touch and then, as cool as you like, tucks the ball under the body of the outrushing Mannone. Game over.
SUBSTITUTION: A sense of relief surrounds the Britannia Stadium, as Stoke had made hard work of their man advantage. Hughes swaps Adam for Palacios to sure up his midfield.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Replacing Fletcher with Altidore shows that Poyet has given this one up. Stoke used another sub around 10 minutes ago, bringing Andy Wilkinson on for Huth. Cameron shifts inside.
SAVE! The fresh legs of Wilkinson galloping forward from right back have Sunderland back-peddling, and they allow him enough room to cut inside and have a left-footed shot from 16 yards, which Mannone did well to hold considering the bobble that it took in front of him.
We are now entering the first of FOUR minutes of second-half stoppage time...
MISS! Arnautovic wastes a chance to put some icing on the cake by shooting into the side netting after Crouch had found his run across goal with a clever reverse pass.
FULL-TIME: STOKE 2-0 SUNDERLAND
A big victory for Mark Hughes's men, who end their winless run at four matches. But it does not come without controversy. I doubt whether Gus Poyet has calmed down yet following what he thought was a very unfair decision from referee Kevin Friend to send off Wes Brown in the first half.
At the time of Brown's dismissal, the Potters were already one goal to the good thanks to Charlie Adam's third of the season. Steven N'Zonzi, who provided the Scot with Stoke's 30th-minute opener, added his own name to the scoresheet nine minutes from time to make sure of the points.
Stoke climb to 15th with victory, while Crystal Palace's 1-0 success at Hull City leaves Sunderland back where they were when Poyet was appointed as manager - bottom of the Premier League.
That's it from me. Thanks for joining Sports Mole today. Be sure to stay with us for live text coverage of Chelsea's trip to London rivals West Ham United this evening. Until next time...
