Stoke City 1 Sunderland 0

Aug 30 2009 by Stuart Rayner, Sunday Sun

SUNDERLAND’S new-look team came up against a side littered with players not deemed good enough for the Stadium of Light but their early style was quickly overwhelmed by Stoke City’s substance.

The Black Cats played some decent stuff in the opening stages. But they were quickly bullied out of it when it became clear they could not cope with the Potters’ classic route-one approach.

When captain Lorik Cana crunched into a tackle it seemed to symbolise how Steve Bruce has changed this team – and judging by the roar from the away end, the fans approve.

Liam Lawrence actually came away with the ball but the Sunderland supporters valued Cana’s blood-and-thunder approach over the prettier one of their former player.

One thing, though, has not changed since the Black Cats lost here last season – they still look panicked by Stoke’s aerial bombardments.

In the fifth minute Craig Gordon collapsed in a heap outside his area after Dave Kitson’s heavy challenge. With Marton Fulop missing with a heel injury, the last thing Sunderland needed was the big Scot coming off.

He got up and carried on but it would just signal the start of an uncomfortable afternoon for the goalkeeper.

Without James Beattie to call on, Stoke resembled a North East B team, packed with players who have represented the region’s big three. The starting line-up contained four ex-Sunderland players, plus former skipper Dean Whitehead on the bench.