Sunderland 1 Stoke City 3: A brace from Marko Arnautovic and Peter Crouch’s 50th goal for the club proved to be the difference for Mark Hughes’ side

STOKE CITY moved into the top half of the league after they cruised to a 3-1 win to record their first victory away at struggling Sunderland.

The game was wrapped up in the first 45 minutes as Mark Hughes' side ran rampant at the Stadium of Light, thanks to a brace from Marko Arnatovic and Peter Crouch's 50th goal for the club.

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Crouch should have opened the scoring early on but his header was deflected wide of the post, defender Donald Love just doing enough to get his body in the way.

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But the Potters didn't have to wait too long for the opener, as Arnautovic lashed the ball home in the top left-hand corner in the 15th minute.

Xherdan Shaqiri expertly found the run of the Austrian, and after his initial shot was stopped by goalkeeper Vito Mannone, he rifled the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Just seven minutes later Arnautovic scored his and his side's second of the game with one of the team goals of the season.

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The 27-year-old playing a quick one-two with Shaqiri to weave through Sunderland, then a neat give-and-go with Crouch, before he expertly curled the ball into the near post with his left-foot.

It was three in the 34th minute as Black Cats fans witnessed a nightmare first-half - Peter Crouch scoring his 99th Premier League goal and 50th for Stoke after he out jumped Mannone who was stranded in no man's land.

Charlie Adam sent a lofted ball high into the area and Mannone came galloping out, but failed to get anywhere near the ball as the former Spurs striker simply nodded the ball into the back of the empty net.

The home side nearly pulled one back through Jack Rodwell, but almost immediately after Jermain Defoe scored his 12th goal of the campaign to restore some belief for the supporters in the 40th minute.

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A long-ball punted up the field left Defoe one-on-one with Lee Grant, and his low drive clipped off the far post and nestled into the back of the net.

Into the second half, Charlie Adam was inches away from scoring a delightful free-kick and Arnautovic pulled his chance for a hat-trick wide of the post, before Rodwell again missed a key chance for Sunderland.

The ball found its way to his feet in the middle of the box, but he somehow scuffed his shot well wide of the goal when it looked easier to score.

Sunderland failed to have any more chances at goal as they drop to 19th in the league.

STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS

• Marko Arnautovic had not scored for Stoke since September coming into this game but fired in two in seven minutes here.
• Sunderland need to get Jordan Pickford back as soon as possible. His replacement Vito Mannone was at fault for two of Stoke’s goals - and let another slip through his hands and onto the post.
• Peter Crouch signed a one-year contract extension in midweek and celebrated it by scoring his 99th Premier League goal – another header.

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• Black Cats fans headed for the exits after Stoke made it 3-0 and chanted, “Are you watching Ellis Short?”.
• Jermain Defoe got one back for Sunderland with his first shot.  It was his 21st Premier League goal in January. Only Alan Shearer with 23 has scored more.
• You would not be shocked if Defoe asked to leave the club before the month is out. West Ham have had one bid rejected but the striker could hand in a transfer request.
• Sunderland currently have 11 players missing – eight injured and three at the African Nations Cup. Only Hull have as many men out. Owner Short must spend some money to help David Moyes out.

• The Black Cats have only won one of their last seven league matches and remain third bottom.
• This victory for the Potters ended a run of three straight away league defeats.
• It was also Stoke’s first win at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League and their first in 15 matches since a 1-0 victory on Wearside in April 1994.

Big picture

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Social says

Dream team ratings

SUNDERLAND: Mannone 5, Love 7, Van Aanholt 5, Djilobodji 6, O'Shea 6, Larsson 6, Rodwell 6 , Januzaj 6, Borini 6, Denayer 5, Defoe 6.

Subs not used: Mika, Jones, Manquillo, Embleton, Honeyman, Asoro, Maja

Goals: Defoe (40)

Booked: van Aanholt, Djilobodji, Januzaj

STOKE CITY: Grant 6, Pieters 7, Martins Indi 7, Johnson 7, Shawcross 6, Arnautoic 9, Allen 7, Whelan 6, Shaqiri 7 (Ngoy 89, 5), Adam 7 (Afellay 68, 6), Crouch 9

Subs not used: Given, Bardsley, Muniesa, Taylor, Imbula

Goals: Arnautovic (15 and 22), Crouch (34)

Booked: Adam

STAR MAN: PETER CROUCH (Stoke City)