Here's how Sunderland's players rated in the 3-1 win over Stoke:
7 Patterson: Two crucial saves with the game goalless.
7 Seelt: Unfortunate with the own-goal. Solid.
7 Ballard: Did a good job on Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell, who was replaced on hour mark.
8 O’Nien: Brilliant goalline clearance to deny Junho when the game was goalless.
7 Hume: Defensively comfortable, linked up well with Clarke and got forward at every opportunity.
7 Neil: Effective in deeper role. Midfield balance worked better than it has in recent weeks.
9 Ekwah: Moved into advanced midfield role and the tweak worked a treat. Back to his best. Influential throughout and deserved his goal.
8 Ba: Had a hand in the first goal, scored the second and created the third. Took his chance after recall following Pritchard bombshell.
7 Bellingham: Effective in linking the play in the first half. Movement troubled Stoke. Best performance for a while.
9 Clarke: Lynden Gooch knows what Clarke is all about but couldn’t stop the winger, who was a threat throughout and created the first two goals.
7 Burstow: Struggled for most of the first half but clearly boosted by his first Sunderland goal.
Substitutes:
Rusyn (for Burstow, 77): N/A
Rigg (for Bellingham, 83): N/A
Pembele (for Ba, 90+2): N/A
Subs not used: Bishop, Hemir, Mayenda, Triantis, Watson , Crompton
Man of the Match: Clarke - Sunderland's best player was in unstoppable form. Created the first two goals that set Black Cats on way to a big victory.
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