Extended Highlights | Sunderland AFC 1-5 Stoke City

Expect the noise to be just that one bit louder today with Alex Neil returning to the stadium of light. This young, exciting Sunderland team have had a great season on their return to the championship. The FISO and LL are touring into Coventry and Rotherham, seeing them drop out of the playoffs. Alex Gritchard returns as they look to face up to recent problems. They could fail to score a five on their last seven. It's our 17th in the table. Alex Neil, hey, well of glance.

Over at Sunderland, across the season, what might have been? He makes two changes today, Keanu Hooper and Tyrese Campbell come in. Well, Sunderland who came off the better when these two met earlier on in the season. Stewart was the one with the goal on that day. He's missing here. He's away with injury. Big appeal for a penalty. Waved away by the referee.

And now a corner. Alex Gritchard right at the heart of things here. There's the ball into the area. He's turned away by Fugge Gjelkar. And there's the shot for the handball. And he's about making a nuisance of himself. The ball comes in and is punched away by Sarkic.

And Sunderland will get another go here. And let's say delivers. Sarkic comes a long way and there's a big collision. As he comes to get to the ball, the referee does blow the whistle. It's a head injury, so the referee has to make sure. Keanu Hooper was the one who felt the punch from his own goalkeeper. Sarkic coming in from behind, came to claim and never really got that.

Luckily for him, his defence back on the line and it's hooked away to safety. Sarkic is a good shot. Sunderland fans here not so happy. They don't feel the ball should be dropped at the feet of Sarkic, but it's Stoke who had possession and is rolled away and out to wall for right. As if the atmosphere wasn't already fairly tense. Here comes Smallbone. Touches the ball back, all too easy.

From one end of the pitch to the other, just like that. And Josh Lawrence is there to break the deadlock here for Stoke. Well Tony Mobré joining with the fans. Unhappy with the ball being dropped to the feet of Sarkic. The ball was swept away, Smallbone racing on to combine here with Jacob Brown. Where was the marking low in the middle? Lawrence arriving free in the middle to sweep it beyond Anthony Patterson and to give Stoke the advantage. Lovely move, wonderful team goal, well finished off.

Really nicely left by DeYellow in midfield. Sunderland were trying to break. Stoke's in their tracks, but they'll try on the left hand side here with Clark. Clark makes the darting run into the middle, Jack Clark runs into traffic. Well, there's certainly an atmosphere here, Clark. Bursting into the box, looking for the penalty. Referee waving this one away.

Touched around the corner, brilliantly by Pritchard. Well, there goes the whistle for half time. Sunderland fans. Not so happy, neither is he. Sunderland's in the corner. And for the complaints of Tony Mowry and Yelacar. Sunderland searching for an equalising goal.

Just before the break, they've got themselves in a spot for Bonner here. Gale sweeps one away, and a small bone arriving, bursting into the area. Lovely awareness here, and a wonderful finish. Touched in by Therese Campbell. Well again, Sunderland, the masters of their own downfall at the back. Given away rather needlessly, and small bone again, providing the assist for the goal, which is swept into the empty net by Therese Campbell. Well, it's not the start to the second half, and Sunderland were hoping for.

Good pressure again from Stoke, pushing hard. Really effective press, and now have the ball in an excellent position. Lawrence sweeps it wide, and he crosses charge down. Campbell down with another goal, and this one flies in. Campbell at the double for Stoke to make his Sunderland nil, Stoke free. Well, let's be honest, I don't think there were many that were predicting this scoreline at the start of the day. Campbell had so much room here on the left-hand side, had a first goal, and the ball sat up nicely for another, a sweeping effort with the right boot.

Cut brilliantly, beyond Anthony Patterson, who despite being a full stretch, wasn't getting to this one. That is a lovely strike. That's a long way back from here. Sunderland trying to give it a good goal. Diallo with quick feet, feeds it through. Roberts onto Precce Hard, and Sunderland do have a room back into the game. Just five minutes after the third goal.

Pritchard creeping into the area, and in the end, it's a pretty simple finish from there. Lovely from Diallo. Wonderful awareness. Roberts doing pretty well too, to find his teammate who was arriving. Pritchard there. 28 minutes now for Sunderland to try and fight back here at the Stadium of Lights. Again, it's a high Sunderland defensive line, and again, bursting away.

Start look a real threat. Here comes Brown. Touches it wide. Keanu Hoover arriving, sweeps one into the area, and in turn, it's sent away for a corner kick. Sunderland. Small bone looking to turn provider again. Deep one to the back of the area.

Big save in the middle, but they can't keep Dwight Gale away. So many problems at the back. And Dwight Gale is there. A real poachers goal spilt by the goalkeeper. Patterson couldn't hold on. And Dwight Gale to make it four one. And the Sunderland fans leave in their numbers.

And the Sunderland fans leave in their numbers. Pritchard pushing, trying to find a way through, but Stoke continued to defend ever so well. And here is Smallbone in a familiar position in this game. Breaking from midfield, finding Brown on the right. Smallbone again. And Smishu with the late challenge and as a result, a Stoke free kick. Dwight Gale upended.

Smallbone with a free kick here. Lifts it into the middle. Patterson comes to claim and gets nowhere near. And possibly the smallest man in the penalty area rises to meet the header. And Stoke have five. Well, it's a decent enough free kick. It's caught from the goalkeeper.

Patterson, Dwight Gale at the double to score another here against Sunderland. The former Newcastle man is rather enjoying himself. Lofted wide and out into yet more space here for Stoke. Well, they wanted to attack some more. Whistle has gone. Alex Neal gets one over on his old team Sunderland.

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