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
All the goals came in a lively first half as the Potters ran rampant against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light
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.
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.