Stoke City 1-0 Sunderland
RICARDO FULLER headed home a trademark Rory Delap long throw in the 76th minute as the Potters earned a thoroughly deserved win against a poor Sunderland side, to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and into double figures for the season.
On a freezing cold night at the Britannia, Stoke lined up with the same eleven that were beaten by Manchester City on Sunday and quickly set about the visiting defence forcing several throw ins early on. Fuller was unlucky not to open the scoring when Mamady Sidibe flicked Delap's launch into the box into his path, only for Anton Ferdinand to block the effort on the line with the keeper beaten.
Seyi Olofinjana then tested Stoke reject Marton Fulop with a stinging drive from the edge of the box, but the Hungarian keeper made a good save down low to his right.
Sunderland's frontline of Cisse and Diouf, which had caused so many problems to north east neighbours Newcastle on Saturday, were finding it tough to break down Stoke's solid defence, with Ryan Shawcross looking particuarly comfortable alongside the ever impressive Abdoulaye Faye.
Stoke had every reason to feel hard done by at not being in the lead by half time, and started the second half where they left off in the first, with more aerial bombardment from Delap causing the increasingy panicky Sunderland defence problems, whilst Fuller's trickery on the ground was also proving a threat.
It was a Fuller run which almost lead to the opener on the hour when his shot was deflected across goal by Phil Bardsley only for the ball to trickle wide with the unfortunate Sidibe agonisingly close to turning it home.
Just when you thought it wasnt going to be Stoke's night, substitute Michael Tonge forced Ferdinand into yet another panicky clearance out for a throw. Delap produced his best throw of the night as Fuller beat Dean Whitehead to the ball and power it past the static Fulop. It was the least than the Jamaican magician deserved for all his recent efferts.
The goal predictably forced Sunderland into action and substitute Kenwyne Jones had their best chance of the night five minutes from time when he shot across goal, only to see Thomas Sorensen prove once again just how important he may well be towards out eventual success this season, when he produced a supurb save down low to his right.
Stoke were able to comfortably see out the remaining time and secure another crucial home win. This win takes a little bit of pressure off the Potters ahead of the clash with Arsenal at the weekend, and provides the chance to have a real go at Arsene Weneger's men who may well still be reeling following the dramatic events against Tottenham.
Man of the Match - Salif Diao - Produced the kind of performance we were used to 2 years ago, broke up everything in the middle and seems to have recaptured his eye for a pass.
Attendance - 26,731
Stoke City:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares (Tonge,69), Olofinjana (Amdy Faye,87), Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller (Kitson,90)
Sunderland:- Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque (Reid,75), Whitehead, Yorke (Jones,45), Richardson, Diouf, Cisse (Chopra,62)
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