A lazy Sunderland team was given a costly lesson by Stoke in their Premiership clash as they lost 1-0 away at the Britannia Stadium during their midweek clash.

The win lifted the Potters out of the drop zone of Barclays Premier League and consigned Sunderland to the bottom half of the table. Sunderland started out brightly with an attack from George McCartney and Djibril Cisse that resulted in the latter firing a low shot and forcing a smothering save from Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.

However Stoke were resilient and hit back getting the home crowd involved on 11 minutes when former Black Cat Rory Delap delivered one of his trademark long throw ins into the Sunderland penalty area. Mamady Sidibe was able to flick the ball into the path of Ricardo Fuller, whose shot from six yards out hit Anton Ferdinand and went out safely.

Seyi Olofinjana then tested Sunderland keeper Marton Fulop with a shot from 20-yards out. However Fulop was able to collect it safely. In the 35th minute Cisse had a great chance to put the visitors ahead when he got to the end of Bardsley's cross, but headed it over.

Kenwyne Jones replaced Dwight Yorke at the break and lent more teeth to the Sunderland attack. But it was Stoke who had the first opportunity in the second period when Higginbotham's in swinging free-kick almost fell to Olofinjana who was unable to put a finishing touch.

In the 73rd minute, Stoke got just rewards when Fuller headed in a long throw from Delap from six yards out rising above Dean Whitehead in the process. He had a chance to double the lead six minutes later, but his shot hit the upright.

Jones had a chance in the 84th minute, but his shot was blocked by Sorensen and Stoke managed to hold on to collect all three points.