ALEX NEIL admits Sunderland were not their usual selves in the first half of their 1-0 win at Stoke City – but the Black Cats boss was delighted with the way in which his players turned their performance around to secure an excellent away win.

Neil’s side were second best for most of the opening period at the bet365 Stadium, but were grateful for three excellent saves from goalkeeper Anthony Patterson that kept the scoresheet blank.

Ross Stewart opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play in first-half stoppage time, slotting home after galloping onto Jack Clarke’s through ball.

And with Dennis Cirkin outstanding as part of the back three, the Black Cats improved markedly in the second half as they shut out a Stoke side that threw a number of attacking substitutes onto the field and offered a constant threat of their own on the counter-attack.

“I think the only positive we took from the first half is the fact that we scored,” said Neil. “We were really disappointing, we didn't do anything that we've done well for a long period of time. We didn't compete well enough, land on second balls, use the ball well.

“That was frustrating, but I think that for how well this team has done over a long period of time, I think you could see that we were leggy today. We were leggy yesterday in training as well and I can't lie, it was a concern for me.

“First half, you could see how much we had to put in at Sheffield United. The goal gave us something, but the half-time team talk didn't change whatsoever. The lads know what's expected individually and collectively, and we didn't reach it.

“But you can't play well all the time, and we had 45 minutes to fix it. Second half, we competed better, moved it better and were a threat.

“We had a few chances, and from memory Stoke only really had that one chance through Dwight Gayle, and that is arguably a foul on Danny Batth. If he scores that, it's some goal.”

In their two games prior to this afternoon’s match, Sunderland had picked up just one point despite performing impressively against both QPR and Sheffield United. The concession of a stoppage-time goal to a goalkeeper deprived them of two points against QPR, while they had to play for more than an hour with ten men following Dan Neil’s dismissal against the Blades.

Today’s win came despite the Black Cats underperforming before the break, so Neil feels it was perhaps a case of things evening themselves out.

“I think we got today what we deserved from the last couple of games,” he said. “We've picked up one point from two games and for how well we did, that was tough to take. So today, we arguably got the points we deserved then.

“What you've got to do is show the other side of your game, your structure and determination. We fought tooth and nail.”