Well, that's it. It was a battle which Stoke won in quite emphatic style. A torrid afternoon for Sunderland throughout who were constantly battered by an immensely physical City side. Dave Kitson's goal just before the break was enough to settle a game in which chances were few and far between. I don't know how Steve Bruce will view his second defeat of the season but stay tuned to SAFC TV later for all the best reaction and Stu Vose's full match report on SAFC.com is just around the corner. I'm off to get a warm brew and pick over the bones of what has been a difficult afternoon for all of us who have travelled down. Thanks for your company today. It's been a touch disappointing.
90+?: A deep cross for Reid drops well over Jones as Sunderland try in vain to find a way through.
90: Four minutes to be added. Last throws of the dice now for the travellers me thinks.
89: Tuncay springs the offside trap and Henderson has to get back sharpish to put his cross behind for a corner as Kitson comes off for Huth to make his debut.
87: Reid does brilliantly to keep, lose, win, lose and win the ball again and then lose out on what should have been a corner off Shawcross. He lets Mr Jones know his displeasure at the decision afterwards though.
84: And the Turk almost does the business straight away bolting through the defence and finding Kitson whose left wing cross just evades Whelan in the middle.
82: A long ball from McCartney deceives Faye in the air and drops to Campbell who controls and shoots on the turn but sees his effort deflect over the bar. Reid sends a couple of corners in but one finds its way out to Bardsley whose cross back in finds Reid and his cross has Sorenson flapping but drops wide of the post. Then Tuncay comes on for Fuller which gets the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
80: Henderson comes on for Cattermole who's found it tough going this afternoon against a tough Stoke side. Let's see what the young lad can do.
79: Finally a shot for Sunderland and the player in question controlled the ball beautifully out on the right wing, took a touch and fired a shot that fizzed into Sorenson's hands as he went down to his right - the player in question......Phil Bardsley. Good stuff from the right back and a good save from the Big Dane as well.
77: Sub for Stoke sees Etherington off for Whitehead who gets a run-out against his former club. He gets a warm reception form the Black cats' faithful away to our right.
76: Still little to report here in the way of chances as Tuncay warms up for a debut appearence. One thing I can tell you though is that it's getting a lot colder in the Potteries now.
72: Sunderland build forward and more by luck than design win a left wing corner that momentarily causes the Stoke defence difficulty, but as they're all 8 feet tall they win the ball in the air eventually and get it away.
71: Kitson again goes close from a Lawrence corner at the front post but he's off balance as he meets the ball 8 yards out.
69: Reid's corner is taken by Sorenson and then bowled straight out to Etherington who scythes forward. He misplaces his pass out to Lawrence who does brilliantly to keep it in and guide it back to Kitson. He threads it to Fuller who's first time shot inside the box just creeps over the cross bar. Could and should be 2-0.
67: Sunderland are starting to come back into it now and a lovely touch from Bent takes him away from his marker and the eventual tackle wins a throw. Sunderland start to pin City back but they eventually get it away.
64: It's all getting a bit tasty out there as Fuller is pulled up for a foul in a tussle with Bardsley and when that comes straight back at Sunderland Cana is booked for a somewhat hefty challenge on Etherington. He was later than the post will be on Wednesday though.
62: Attendance of 27, 091 is annnounced as Campbell is again the man to cause problems and his pace and strength wins a corner which is eventually dealt with by the Stoke defence.
60: Subs already making an impact as some neat stuff from Cambell and Reid opens up Stoke for a moment but as McCartney gets to the by-line from Reid's incisive pass he stretches too much and puts his cross straight out.
58: Double sub for Sunderland as the aforementioned subs come on for Richardson and Malbranque.
57: The crowd bay for blood as a freekick is fairly given to Sunderland after Fuller flattens Nosworthy. Good decision I say Mr Jones.
55: Fuller does Nosworthy with trikcery then Nyron just DOES Fuller in a challenge on the right wing - he gets a yellow for it. The freekick comes in from Etherington and Gordon is fouled under the ball and the pressure is relieved.
53: Well, I didn't think I'd see it but Cattermole and Cana are losing the midfield battle at the moment and Sunderland are chasing shadows. Steve Bruce is standing motionless in his technical area, arms behind back as his side continue to offer little going forward. Reid and Campbell are warming up, so maybe a change in the offing?
51: It's amazing how quickly this game is changing and down the other end down the right side Etherington sends one across and Lawrence only just heads wide at the back post.
50: Sunderland begin to come back into it and McCartney does well to send over a cross under pressure but it's to close to Sorenson.
47: It's another nervy start for the visitors and Bardsely immediately gives away a cheap throw in. It causes mayhem and as Stoke come forward again Whelan strikes one from 20 yards and only a flying Nosworthy puts it wide for a corner. And from Etherington's cross Lawrence hits one on the turn just inside the box and Bardsley redeems himself with a clearence off the line. Already it's backs to the wall stuff.
46: And we're back under-way. No subs to report but there's a long way to go still in this game.
45: Two minutes of injury time played and then Mr Jones brings it to an end. At the break it's 1-0 to Stoke who have that goal that is always called more important, right before half-time through Dave Kitson's first in the Premier League for Stoke (he's only been here 14 months). Sunderland haven't really offered that much as they've only really managed an effort from Bent that curled wide. Not a lot to go on and if there's a result here for the Black Cats they'll have to work a lot harder to overcome a decent Stoke side and this partisan crowd. I'll see you on the other side.
44: Fine line there boys, very very fine line. Another left wing corner comes in and only a touch from Cana gets it away with numbers lurking at the back stick for Stoke.
42: And there's where it all goes wrong. Stoke win a corner after some nervous defending and as it's swung in from Lawrence, the ball bounces round and when Jones fails to get any purchase on a header away Kitson is there to slam the bouncing ball past Gordon and make it 1-0. Rather unsurprisingly, it came from a set play.
40: Absolutely lovely stuff from Sunderland there. An Arsenal like pasing move sees McCartney work it to Jones in midfield, his pirouette takes him away from his marker and he plays it out to Richardson, he cuts inside and finds Bent who turns and curls a sublime effort just wide of Sorenson's left post. Stunning stuff.
38: Cattermole steams forward leaving a host of Stoke players in his wake and with a good ball out to Bardsley starts an attack, he works it forward to Malbranque who wins a corner and when that comes in there's a moment of panic before it's dealt with. Sunderland have their tails up at present.
36: Why must they worry us so? Nyron first with brazillian like skill and composure brings it down and turns Kitson and then passes straight to Etherington. His ball over the top opens everything up for a moment but as Ferdinand goes to head it back to Gordon, his contact lacks any purchase and Gordon is once again there to save the day as Fuller is all over the chance.
34: A chance...Hazahh. Richardson's corner finds skipper Lorik Cana 16 yards out but the Albanian's salmon-like leap means he's up a bit too high and his header loops over the top as he misjudges the ball's flight.
32: A surprising long ball from Stoke wins them a corner when Nosworthy puts the ball out under pressure from Fuller and Etherington's flag-kick is headed well wide by Faye who is up way above Jones at the back-stick.....and breathe out.
30: End to end stuff here but no-one is making possession count. One day I'll have a chance to talk about.
28: Malbranque is everywhere at present and after putting Higginbotham under immense pressure at one end and forcing a mistake from the left back, he's then back as the first line of defence. A real star for the Black cats so far.
25: Well, I don't know how pretty he'll be after that one....a change of tack from City sees Delap drop a short throw to Whelan 25 yards out, he hits a crisp half volley which for all the world is going in but it absolutely mullers Jones in the face on it's way and goes out for a corner. But there's more trouble from the set piece as Gordon makes a hash of his claim and Faye is too late to get on the end of it. There was a foul on the keeper apparently so he's a lucky boy there but my heart certainly sped up.
23: The two sides of Nugsy there. First he gives away a needless corner and from said flag-kick he's all over Faye at the back-post to clean up Cana's mis-timed challenge. Good recovery from the man I'd like to christen 'The Unit'.
21: Not much happens for three minutes (welcome break for my cold hands) but then a flurry of activity sees a big challenge from Cana on Lawrence, which he skips out of and great defending from Ferdinand to deal with Fuller who tries to turn him but Ferdi holds strong. Good lad Anton.
17: A bit more dismay at the back for the visitors sees Fuller gifted the ball in the middle and Lawrence is left completely free out wide. Sunderland deal with the cross but when the inevitable throw-in and corner come in Gordon is back-pedalling to watch an Etherington corner drift wide. Now, I'm not sure if it's coming across, but I'm worried at the moment.
15: BOOOOSH!!!! Lorik Cana dismantles Etherington in a tackle and sets up an attack that eventually sees Jones and Bent link up well but the latter's eventual shot is well dealt with by Shawcross.
13: Careful Phil....Bardsley piles into Etherington in a 50/50 after the ball has gone and try as he might he can't convince the referee of his innocence. But I've seen the replay and I can tell you at home it was a foul.
12: Bent springs the offside trap and gets behind the last man but he's without support and his cut back finds the man mountain Faye who clears. Showing promise now though.
10: Sunderland bounce back though and a dangerous corner from Malbranque is well dealt with by Delap. He's everywhere this kid.
9: Sunderland losing the aerial battle at present and Kitson is the first one to go close. A long Delap throw (surprisingly) causes havoc and the man with the flaming hair gets underneath the knock down and puts it well over from 10 yards.
7: Stoke look up for this one but the Black Cat's defending hasn't really covered the side in glory thus far but so far they haven't had the final ball. Only seven gone as Sunderland have a left wing corner which Malbroanque takes but finds only Abdoulaye Faye.
6: Two long Delap throws cause mayhem in the box (doesn't help if there not cleared for a good few seconds) and eventually Gordon is up to get it. Phew.
4: Heart in mouth moment for all of us travelling fans there. Nosworthy lets a long ball drop right over his head and Dave Kitson (goal machine) almost gets in but Gordon is out quick smart to clear the danger. He gets a clout for his trouble and stays grounded for a few seconds and a fearful Trevor Carson almost got the ultimate call there. He's OK though the big man.
2: Already the gaffer's out with arms outstretched to contest a freekick given against Richardson on Lawrence. But Andy Wilkinson puts it straight out with a horrible first touch. Nervy much Andrew?
1458: Here we go.............a little early Mr Jones.
Stoke's lineup resembles a former who's who of Sunderland FC with Sorenson, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Delap all in the first team with Whitehead on the bench. New signings Huth and Tuncay (former Middlesbrough.....booooooooo!) are on the bench. Almost time for kick off and the decibels are rising in the Britannia and Sunderland are to kick off.....
Quick recap on the teams for you, Craig Gordon is between the sticks with a back four of Phil Bardsley, Anton Ferdinand, Nyron Nosworthy and George McCartney, Steed Malbranque, Lorik Cana (the captain for today), Lee cattermole and Kieran Richardson across the middle and it's Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent spearheading the attack. Expect an afternoon of looking up as long balls cascade down upon you boys.
Well, here we are again. But this is different somehow.....oh yes, this time we're freezing at the Britannia Stadium as Sunderland come all the way down the M6 to play Stoke City in the Potteries. For those of you who are warm at home, well, I know you'd rather be here seeing Steve Bruce's side roar onto another win.....fingers crossed eh? I'll be your guide for this afternoon for what will, i'm sure be a feast for the non-purist. It's great to have you with us this afternoon.
SAFC TV's James Craggs brings you live text updates from the Britannia Stadium.
