Stoke City 2-1 Sunderland: Luke McNally goal ends dire home run

Ryan Mmaee (centre) gives Stoke City the lead against Sunderland

Luke McNally's headed winner ended Stoke City's run of home defeats as they saw off Sunderland.

The Burnley loanee headed in Daniel Johnson's corner kick early in the second half to give Alex Neil the respite of a second win in nine Championship games.

Ryan Mmaee had fired Stoke ahead early in the game but Jack Clarke's eighth goal of the season had brought the Black Cats level.

McNally's winner means play-off hopefuls Sunderland have lost back-to-back games and brought an abrupt end to their run of three successive away wins.

Stoke manager Alex Neil had jokingly feared he might end up being abused by both sets of fans in this game, after his controversial move from Sunderland last year and given the fact that since that moment only struggling QPR have lost more home Championship games than his team.

That kind of form had left them hanging above the relegation zone but they were off to a flying start against a Black Cats side who had not only won their past three on their travels, but had also scored three goals in each.

The Potters went ahead after just seven minutes as Mehdi Leris flicked Wouter Burger's ball into the path of Mmaee, who controlled and found the bottom corner, with Sunderland players claiming he had used a hand.

Sunderland were soon level as Clarke - now the division's top scorer - snapped up the rebound after Jobe Bellingham had intercepted Michael Rose's poor pass and powered past Burger to fire in a shot that Mark Travers could only parry.

Stoke had the better chances of the first half as Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson turned over Burger's shot and Mmaee had an effort cleared off the line, but Abdoullah Ba missed a golden opportunity to edge the visitors ahead, hitting the side netting after Daniel Johnson's poor touch had let him in on goal.

Sunderland paid for that early in the second half as Johnson's corner kick found McNally to score his first Championship goal.

Dan Ballard headed against a post, Adil Aouchiche headed another big chance over, and Clarke had a volley well saved by Travers as Stoke held on for the win to move five points above the relegation zone in 20th. The Black Cats sit sixth.

Stoke manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:

"Sunderland are a good team. They've shown that this season and last season, and we're very much in our infancy as a team.

"Out of all the lads that started, I've been told Enda Stevens was the longest-serving permanent player and he signed eight weeks ago so I think everyone is aware of where we are as a team and the development we have to go through.

"But I'm fully aware that at this level you have to win matches and today was a massive three points for confidence for the players and belief for the fans.

"We've waited for a lot of players coming back from injury and we still have a couple of key injured players who are not available but it was so important we put on a performance and got the win.

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:

"The main [frustration] is with our team. We have to start better in both halves.

"I've spent a lot of time trying to get them to realise the intensity of football matches, [telling them] 'Teams are going to come for you, you're a young group of players who have to be ready for that physicality that starts games.'

"I scratch my head because the last message we always give them is about that. There is a good balance between confidence, wanting to be a good football team and playing, and having to deal with that intensity, to deal with a team that is asking you physical questions.

"Generally this year we have done all right in those aspects, but as I told them at half-time we fell a little bit below it in the first half today, and then they go and score within two minutes of the start of the second half.

"You could argue it's an individual error. A man lost his man at the back post and they scored, so not a lack of intensity from the team."