Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland

Connor Wickham scored his fifth goal of the season

• Wickham scores after 59 seconds

• Another sensational Adam strike

• Sunderland slip into bottom three

• Discuss the match on social media using #BBCSTOSUN

Sunderland have slipped into the Premier League's bottom three despite scraping their way to a hard-earned point at Stoke.

Connor Wickham capitalised on an Asmir Begovic fumble after only 59 seconds to nudge Dick Advocaat's side ahead.

But Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam hauled a dominant Stoke level with a fierce rising shot before the break.

The point leaves the Black Cats in 18th position, one behind Leicester, with five games of the season remaining.

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Given the unenviable nature of their run in - trips to Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea as well as home games against Southampton and Leicester - earning the six points Advocaat believes they will need will not be easy.

Neither, though, was taking something from the Britannia on Saturday.

Wickham's early intervention, prodding over the line at the second attempt after Begovic fumbled a Billy Jones cross, gave them a platform after their home humbling against Crystal Palace last time out.

But that was almost dismantled by a vibrant first-half performance by Stoke.

Mark Hughes' side spent much of the opening period in the Sunderland half, the attacking triumvirate of Adam, Marko Arnautovic and Stephen Ireland wreaking havoc.

Adam was the main threat, peppering Costel Pantilimon's goal with several fierce efforts before conjuring a splendid equaliser.

The Scottish midfielder, who scored from inside his own half at Chelsea earlier this month, stepped on to a Jon Walters lay-off and screamed a rising, angled strike with his weaker right foot high into Pantilimon's top left-hand corner from 14 yards.

Advocaat withdrew Will Buckley at the interval - a switch that allowed Jones more room to advance from right back - and Sunderland were much better after the break.

On one of his regular forays forward, Jones was denied by Begovic's outstretched leg, while Jermain Defoe and Wickham both spurned great opportunities.

Stoke continued to carry a threat, with Mame Biram Diouf only thwarted by a brave Pantilimon block, but could not find the goal that would earn them consecutive wins.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We're a little bit frustrated. We conceded a poor goal but after that I thought we were excellent.

"I went with an attacking side because we wanted to put them under pressure early, which we did after the goal.

"It takes us closer to our 50-point target."

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat: "The first half, Stoke were the better team and we were lucky it was just 1-1.

"We played a little differently in the second half and it worked well. We had two 100% chances and didn't score but every point for us is very important.

"Results have not worked in our advantage today so we have to do it by ourselves next week."