Sunderland 1-5 Stoke City – Match Report & Player Ratings

Report

Sunderland were hammered at home by Alex Neil’s Stoke City, as former Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle scored twice.

Stoke’s first goal was one of controversy, as Sunderland came close to scoring from a free-kick but the referee stopped the game for a head injury on a Stoke player.

The referee, Jeremy Simpson, gave the ball to Stoke, who went on to score straight from that situation.

Will Smallbone, who got 3 assists, played in Josh Laurent, who couldn’t miss!

Sunderland did not start the second half well, and they were 0-3 done within just 12 minutes.

Tyres Campbell scored twice in 4 minutes, one was a goal he couldn’t miss after it was put on a plate again by Smallbone again, and another was a brilliant curling shot.

Pritchard gave Sunderland a tiny bit of hope as he scored with half an hour left, with good play from Amad, he played in Patrick Roberts, who played in Pritchard, and he scored from close range.

Stoke’s fourth goal came from a set-piece, Anthony Patterson made a great save, but it fell straight to Dwight Gayle, who prodded it home.

10 minutes later, Stoke made it 5-1, a free-kick was lifted in and Dwight gallery towered above the Sunderland defense and headed the ball past Patterson.

Sunderland now sit in 10th, 6 points away from the play-offs.

Player Ratings

Anthony Patterson – 4

Some of his kicking was off again, could’ve maybe done more when he tried to come and claim the ball for Stoke’s 5th.

Trai Hume – 5

One of the only players who wasn’t too bad, put in a half decent shift.

Dan Ballard – 4

Struggled with the pace and movement of Campbell and Gayle.

Danny Batth – 4

Similar to Ballard.

Aji Alese – 5

Must’ve suffered a knock, because he wasn’t actually too bad in the first half.

Dan Neil – 3

He had a really bad day at the office, his mistake gifted Stoke their 3rd goal, and his passing was awful.

Alex Pritchard – 4

He tried to make things happen, it just didn’t come off for him today.

Amad – 4

He made several good runs, but our players looked too scared to play the pass, he just couldn’t get involved today.

Patrick Roberts – 5

Our main threat, created our goal.

Jack Clarke – 5

Almost set up a goal early on, but Gelhardt failed to finish.

Joe Gelhardt – 4

Didn’t see much of the ball, taken off at half-time.

SUBS

Luke O’Nien – 5

Came on at half-time in left-back and struggled defensively throughout.

Edouard Michut – 5

Struggled against a physical Stoke midfield.

MoTM – I have no idea.