Late goals from Patrick van Aanholt and Duncan Watmore have given Sunderland a 2-0 victory over 10-man Stoke City in their Premier League clash this afternoon.
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The hosts dominated the first half, as Steven Fletcher was denied by Potters keeper Jack Butland early on, before Jermain Defoe fired narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Stoke's best chance of the game came after the half-hour mark, when Jonathan Walters was denied by Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon from close range.
The visitors were reduced to 10-men after the break when Ryan Shawcross picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Watmore, and the Black Cats were able to dominate the remainder of the match.
Midfielder Yann M'Vila missed two chances to give the hosts the lead moments later, before Stoke city produced a good save to keep out a Sebastian Coates header.
Stoke made a rare foray into the opposition half on 59 minutes, when Glen Johnson burst down the right flank to find Walters, only for the Irishman to be denied by Pantilimon.
Sam Allardyce's side were running out of time gain a vital win, as Geoff Cameron blocked a Jeremain Lens effort, before the Netherlands international blazed an effort over the bar.
Sunderland finally broke their opposition's resistance on 83 minutes when Adam Johnson was brought down outside the penalty area. Van Aanholt took the set piece, and netted his first Premier League goal.
The hosts doubled their lead moments later, as youngster Watmore found the bottom corner of the net for his third goal of the season, sealing Sunderland's second victory in a row.
Stephen Topping
