09/12/2024 12:13
The Black Cats had failed to win any of the six games played in November, although only one had ended in defeat after a narrow loss to Sheffield United.
Sunderland had an early chance to take the lead when Patrick Roberts fired over the bar from just inside the box and the home side was made to pay when Stoke went ahead on six minutes.
Lewis Koumas managed to spring the off-side trap and although Anthony Patterson managed to keep his first shot out, Koumas knocked in the rebound for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Sunderland responded immediately however, with the Bristol Street Motors-backed side drawing level within a minute.
From the kick-off, Sunderland charged forwards and teenager Tommy Watson fired in a shot from outside the box that flew past Viktor Johansson and into the corner.
Watson came close to a second when he forced Johansson into a save at the near post from a tight angle before Wilson Isidor forced the ‘keeper into a smart save from a free-kick.
Isidor then steered a shot wide from close range before Watson struck the post, with the scores somehow remaining level until the half-time break as Stoke tried to hold on.
Sunderland continued to dominate after the break with Watson missing from close range and having seen a goal disallowed, the Black Cats finally got the reward for their efforts when a shot from Watson deflected beyond Johansson and into the net.
The three points mean Sunderland sit fourth in the standings after the weekend, with a home tie against Bristol City up next in the mid-week fixtures.