Stoke City 2-1 Sunderland – Match Report

A sloppy performance from the Black Cats proves costly as they drop down to 6th in the table following a bitterly disappointing defeat at Stoke.

Stoke took the lead after just 6 minutes, as Sunderland were sloppy in possession, and lèris found Ryan Mmaee, who looked as though he controlled it with his arm before calmly finishing beyond Patterson.

The Black Cats responded brilliantly, and equalised 3 minutes later, after some brilliant work from Jobe, who forced the saved, but Clarke aas there to follow it in.

Sunderland thought they had took the lead after Abdoullah Ba won the ball back in Stoke’s penalty area, but his shot hit the side netting, when he really should have scored.

Just after half-time, Stoke took the lead again through Luke McNally, after a great corner by Daniel Thompson.

Sunderland struggled to deal with the home sides pressure throughout, but they failed to show a plan B.

The only real save Mark Travers had to make was from Jack Clarke, who hit a nice volley from the edge of the box, but it was well saved.

Just before that chance, Dan Ballard did come close to equalising, as he saw his header from Dack’s free-kick strike the post.

Substitute, Adil Aouchiche had a wonderful opportunity to equalise with a free header from 6-yards out, that he somehow sent sailing over the bar.

The Black Cats have now dropped down to 6th, just 1 point inside the play-off positions, whereas Stoke have moved up to 20th, and 5 points clear of relegation.

It is now 2 games on the bounce that Sunderland have failed to win, and they travel to, table toppers, Leicester City on Tuesday night.

MoTM – Jack Clarke