Premier League Match Report: Sunderland Defeats Stoke City 4-0

Still recovering after last week's defeat to Chelsea and the heated departure of high-profile signing Asamoah Gyan who is now on loan at Al Ain, Sunderland got a much-needed and resounding 4-0 victory over Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.

Steve Bruce's men scored two goals in the first half-hour of the match with an own goal off Jonathan Woodgate in the 11th minute netting them a third. The first came roaring at five minutes in with Titus Bramble scoring his first goal as a Black Cat.

Craig Gardner and a Sebastian Larsson free kick drove home the last two at 28' and 58', respectively. Newcomer Nicklas Bendtner gave a strong showing with an assist on Gardner's goal and a solid, but ultimately missing, eleventh-hour goal attempt. 

Stoke City's strong start to the season was derailed after a string of costly defensive mistakes, beginning with Asmir Begovic's fumbling of the opening goal to Woodgate's own goal and Robert Huth's tripping of Stephane Sessegnon, which led to the Larsson free kick and the final goal. Peter Crouch attempted to turn the game around in the last few minutes, but failed to close on a last-attempt goal.

Steve Bruce told the BBC he is confident his Black Cats can repeat last season's top-half finish:

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"I've had stick all my life, but you don't become immune to the frenzy and nothing will derail me from the job of competing around the top 10 and given my squad and a bit of time I'm confident we can do that." 

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