WHAT A MISS! Crouch again plays a delightful reverse ball to Arnautovic but he blasts it wide from 6 yards out, Howler.
90' +2
Not a great week for Seb Larsson. Three losses and now a yellow card. Still at least he hasn't had to chase Ronaldo around this afternoon.
90' +1
Best bit of play by Sunderland all game, Altidore turns and plays in Johnson who gets past Pieters and puts in a great cross but it's bunched away by Begovic.
90'
S. Larsson gets yellow.
89'
Sunderland have lost all seven games in which they conceded the opening goal, and have also failed to outscore the opposition in the second half of a match this season. No change there then.
87'
The game is now pretty flat. Both sides just running down the clock. But here comes Wilkinson, he shifts the ball onto his left foot from 20 yards out but fires it straight at Mannone.
85'
J. Altidore enters the game and replaces S. Fletcher.
Looks like Poyet has given up. He's taken off his main man, Fletcher, to protect him for future games. Altidore is the man replacing him.
83'
Sunderland pay the price for going for the equaliser. Huge relief around the Britannia and now the fans are singing loud.
82'
W. Palacios enters the game and replaces C. Adam.
81'
S. Nzonzi has scored a goal for Stoke City! Assist by P. Crouch.
GOAL! Game over and Stoke will be going home with three points. Lovely diagonal through ball by Peter Crouch to Stoke's stand out player, Steve Nzonzi, who just pokes it past Mannone from 10 yards out. Lovely goal.
Minute
Description
79'
Cameron runs 50 yards to the right corner flag, about to cross it but Colback tracks back and steals it off him. Stoke claim a free kick but it's waved away.
77'
A. Wilkinson enters the game and replaces R. Huth.
M. Arnautović gets yellow.
NEARLY! Charlie Adam whips in a delicious ball from the left, but it avoids everyone, Walters and Whelan unable to get a touch.
76'
The Potters have dropped a league-high seven points from winning positions this season, will they add to that tally this afternoon?
74'
Begovic you lucky lucky boy. Fletcher is running onto a ball over the top, but Begovic comes off his line to met him, he connects with the ball but also with Fletcher. How is that less dangerous than Wes Brown's tackle earlier? I'm sure Poyet is overjoyed at that decision.
72'
CLOSE! Sunderland have their best chance of the half, their patient build up ends up with Johnson finding space on the egde of the area. He takes aim but fires about a yard wide. Mark Hughes is looking nervous.
70'
F. Borini enters the game and replaces O. Čelůstka.
Sunderland have a free kick on the edge of the area, on the right hand side. This time Larsson will take it, it's a good cross but Begovic punches it away. Borini is on for Celustka.
69'
E. Pieters gets yellow.
68'
Looks like Borini, on loan from Liverpool is about to join the action. Poyet is definitely going for the draw.
66'
Cameron fires in another cross from the right, Crouch gets to it but it's an awkward ball to get down to and he plants it well over. Sunderland are coming under more pressure now though.
64'
Johnson takes it but hits it straight into the wall. Stoke break and Charlie Adam is one on one with Larsson only for him to shoot well over. Poyet voices his frustration, he wanted Larsson to take the free kick.
62'
The game has opened up, end to end now. Sunderland have a free kick, they take it quickly, Ki plays it wide only for O'Shea to take over, he draws a foul and Sunderland have another free kick in a dangerous position.
60'
Crouch feeds Arnautovic plays it across the box to Walters. But he fluffs his lines and his shot rolls across the goal, O'Shea plays it away.
58'
Sunderland will get chance on the break this half but they need to move the ball quicker if they want to catch Stoke out. Sunderland have a free kick from 40 yards out, Larsson to take it. It's a poor delivery and Stoke come away with it.
56'
Bardsley has a shot well saved by Begovic who immediately throws it to Cameron on the right. He gets another dangerous cross in. Stoke are mounting the pressure.
55'
Great play by Stoke City. Cameron finds space down the right and crosses with the outside of his boot to the far post, Walters is just inches away from making it two.
53'
CHANCE! Walters lofts the ball to the back post, Crouch is underneath it and out jumps O'Shea but heads it straight at Mannone.
52'
Poyet will no doubt have used that red card to get his players fired up for this half. They've started well with Stoke a little sloppy in the opening exchanges.
50'
Colback's cross is deflected wide, corner to Sunderland. It's taken by Larsson but is over hit and Begovic takes the goal kick.
48'
Stoke using their numerical advantage to make Sunderland chase after the ball. Neat play from the back four, but Sunderland do eventually retrieve it only for Fletcher to needlessly give it away.
46'
Sunderland kick off in their yellow away strip. Apparently Sunderland have already confirmed they intend to appeal Wes Brown's red card. He'd miss three games if it isn't overturned.
45' +2
Sunderland have a corner, with the last kick of the half. It falls to Colback on the egde of the box, he can't get a shot away and they play it all the way back to Mannone.
45'
There will be two minutes of stoppage time of what has been a very eventful half. I'm sure Poyet will have plenty to say to the officials when the half time whistle blows.
43'
Stoke are winless in eight league games (D4, L4). It's their worst run since an 11-match streak between April and September 2012. Right now they're in prime position to break that streak. Johnson has a pop from 30 yards, it's well over, goal kick to Stoke.
40'
V. Roberge enters the game and replaces E. Giaccherini.
What can Sunderland do now? Well they have a corner after a quick break through the middle. Larsson takes it but Stoke get it away.
Giaccherini is making way for Valentin Roberge, Gus Poyet is clearly settng his side up for the counter attack. Right now it seems a tough ask for his side to get anything from this.
38'
Gus Poyet is absolutely furious with that decision by Kevin Friend. Charlie Adam is fine and the game continues.
36'
W. Brown goes off after a red card!
RED CARD! Wes Brown is sent off for a fairly innocuous challenge on Charlie Adam. His feet are off the floor, 10 years ago the game would carry on, but these days when you raise your feet like that it's asking for trouble.
34'
Brown plays a long ball to Fletcher but there's too much on it and Begovic has another goal kick. They break and Cameron finds space down the right to force a cross. It's nodded clear and they have a corner.
32'
The game was a little flat before that goal. How will Sunderland respond?
30'
C. Adam has scored a goal for Stoke City! Assist by S. Nzonzi.
GOAL! Nzonzi gets into the right hand side off the penalty box, he turns his marker and rolls it to the edge of the box for the arriving Charlie Adam who sweeps it underneath Mannone with his trusty left foot from 18 yards out. Very good team goal.
28'
Stoke resulting to the long ball, but Walters strays offside and Sunderland have a free kick.
26'
Sunderland have mustered only 26 shots on target this season, the lowest tally in the league. And so far today you can see why, not much creativity from midfield. 27 minutes gone and they still haven't had an attempt on goal.
25'
Ki floats a ball in into the back post, but there's too much on it and Fletcher is unable to bring it down. Here come Stoke on the break, Arnautovic decides to have a go from 30 yards but it's high and wide.
23'
Larsson finds Colback on the left as Sunderland keep switching play. They look a lot more organised and patient under Poyet, seems to be doing a good job so far.
21'
Crouch brings it down on his chest beautifully and plays in Arnautovic who crosses straight to Mannone. Huge shouts from Stoke fans for handball, O'Shea keeps his arms close to his body but I've seen them given.
20'
Fletcher heads it away. There's a great tempo about the game so far, both sides looking to take the initiative.
18'
Sunderland work it from left to right with Giaccherini finding Johnson but Stoke steal it and get a cross in from the right but O'Shea heads it out for a corner.
16'
Neat stuff in the middle between Adam and Whelan, but they get dispossesed and Sunderland break.
14'
Sunderland growing into this game now, they're trying to play it up to Fletcher quickly to get him in the game.
11'
CLOSE! Great chance for Stoke, they get down the right and cut it across, but O'Shea is there to knock it out for a corner.
9'
Johnson to take the corner but is cleared and Sunderland have another corner. There's a bit of pushing between O'Shea and Shawcross, both former Man Utd players. Johnson takes the second corner short but it's blocked and goes out for a goal kick.
7'
A very 80's looking match today with many Stoke players sporting movember moustaches. But they're on the backfoot here with Johnson finding space down the right, he cuts it back but it's cleared and Sunderland have a corner.
5'
Stoke may have a problem already, Arnautovic is hobbling on the far side and is holding his ankle. Mark Hughes is looking to his bench.
4'
Stoke beginning well, playing their new passing game. I wonder if Stoke fans are missing newly appointed Palace boss Tony Pulis? Their team is definitely playing more attractive football this season, but will it end in relegation?
2'
Sunderland start well with Bardsley trying to get in round the back of Walters. He's ushered out of play and Stoke have a goal kick.
1'
We're under way here at the Britannia, Stoke Kick off.
Good afternoon and welcome to the LIVE Text Commentary of Stoke City v Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium. I'm Greg Taylor and I'll be guiding you through all the action in what will be a big game for both Premier League strugglers.
Before the international break Sunderland beat Man City 1-0 as they continued their recovery under Gus Poyet. Today he'll be coming face to face with his old Chelsea team mate Mark Hughes, with both managers desperate for three points. With Sunderland currently languishing in 19th and Stoke only three points above in 17th, today will no doubt be a cagey and closely fought affair.
Both sides have two wins each so far this season. Poyet, however has managed those in just four games in charge of Sunderland, while Hughes has had 11 games at Stoke.
So with all that said and done, let's see who's starting today.
Gus Poyet has name an unchanged Sunderland side which means Steven Fletcher continues in the lone striker role, with tyneside derby match winner Fabio Borini and Jozy Altidore on the bench should the Uruguayan feel Fletcher needs some help up top.
Sebastian Larsson is also starting, lets hope he's recovered from losing that World Cup play-off to Ronaldo, sorry I mean Portugal.
Stoke meanwhile have replaced Stephen Ireland with Charlie Adam after the Scottish international scored the stoppage-time penalty that got them a 3-3 draw at Swansea City two weeks ago. Glenn Whelan also comes in at the expense of Wilson Palacios, while Kenwyne Jones still isn't available. Marc Muniesa and Brek Shea are called up to the squad.
That's the interval, and Stoke City lead Sunderland 1-0 courtesy of a Charlie Adam finish. It's been a half of few chances, but the hosts deserve the lead for showing more initiative. Sunderland's woeful away form continues, they were unable to create a meaningful chance all half.
Gus Poyet must be so disappointed with his side. After a terrific performance at home to Man City last time out, his side haven't really got going and Mark Hughes will definitely be the happier of the two. It's Stoke's game to lose now.
The Black Cats have only managed one point from seven away fixtures dating back to April and it doesn't look like they'll be adding to that today.
The players are back out for the second half, the game will re-start shortly.
Not a game of too much quality, but Stoke were worthy winners. They craeted the better chances and took their chances well. Sunderland will look to the sending off as a turning point, but they were already trailing 1-0 by that point. Sunderland remain in the relegation zone while Stoke will be looking at the top half of the table.
I've been Greg Taylor, and thanks for joining us for the action at the Britannia Stadium. It's a big win for Mark Hughes' men, let's see if they can sustain it next week. Bye for now.
And that's it. A 100th Premier League win for Mark Hughes as a manager. Stoke have won for the first time in nine fixtures but Sunderland's dreadful away form continues. It's finished Stoke City 2 - 0 Sunderland.
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