A slight scare for Sunderland there but it looks as though they are going to see this game through.

Beattie bursts into the box and tries to find a team-mate with a looping cross but Collins heads the ball away to safety.

Stoke finally get themselves in a decent position and have a chance to get the ball in the box from a free-kick but it is taken short and wasted as Sunderland read the routine.

There doesn't seem to be much of a way back into the game for Stoke and they are struggling to even get the ball out of their own half at the moment.

Reid puts another superb ball into the box and Cisse is on the end of it this time but his header falls comfortably into the arms of Sorensen.

It was only a matter of time before the home side broke the deadlock and it is not surprising that it came from a cross as Sunderland have bombarded the visitors with crosses in the last twenty minutes.

Stoke just about manage to weather another Sunderland storm as they scramble away dangerous crosses from McCartney and Bardsley.

Stoke are going to have to defend for their lives as we enter the final 15 minutes of the game because there are going to be a lot of heavy legs out on the pitch and Pulis has no substitutions left.

Sunderland are getting closer now and Edwards has made a big impact on the game. Reid is also beginning to pull the strings in the centre of the park.

Reid picks out Edwards inside the box and he strikes a low shot on the volley that sails inches wide of the post.

Edwards shows his pace as he bursts down the left flank before flashing a superb ball across the face of goal. Cisse shows great technique and gets a volley away that whistles past the right hand post.

Reid lines up a free-kick for Sunderland and tries his luck from a tight angle but it is straight at Sorensen.

Camara has put in his contender for miss of the season there and should really have done better with that opportunity.

A Stoke free-kick sails into the box and Faye flicks it on. Beattie fails to control the ball in the box and Camara from inside the six-yard box strikes a shot against the crossbar with an open goal.

The home side build an attack and Malbranque puts a cross into the box from the right flank but Kelly cushions the ball down to Sorensen with his chest and Stoke regain possession.

Sunderland are getting bodies forward in numbers but are still lacking the cutting edge in the final third as Jones holds up the ball but is dispossessed by Sonko.

Reid finally gets the set piece away but it is easily headed clear by Faye.

Sunderland have not created much so far in this half but they are looking very comfortable in possession and are playing very patiently, but Stoke are holding firm so far.

Camara has looked the most likely to make something to happen for Stoke in his first appearance for the side but runs into trouble on this occasion.

The atmosphere is a little flat around the Stadium of Light and the game needs something to spark it back into life.

A Malbranque cross causes all sorts of problems in the Stoke box and Sorensen eventually manages to clear the danger before Beattie is fouled by Richardson.

Reid curls an inviting ball into the box and Collins gets his head on it and thinks he has scored but Kelly clears the ball off the line.

Sunderland are still livid at the referee's failure to award them with a penalty but it is not stopping them going in search of an opener.

Beattie finds space for a shot on the edge of the box but will be disappointed with his effort as he strikes the ball into the stand behind the goal.

That was certainly a strong shout for a penalty and Pugh would surely have received his marching orders for denying the goal. A lucky escape for the visitors.

Jones picks out Malbranque who has a free header at the far post but Pugh clears it off the line. The Sunderland players and fans behind the goal appeal for handball but Rob Styles waves away the protests.

Sunderland get the ball straight up the pitch and Cisse tries his luck but slices his shot well wide of the target.

Beattie sets up Camara who gets another sight of goal and pulls the trigger from 20-yards, this time sending his shot flying past the post.

Richardson leads a Sunderland attack and takes the ball towards byline but sends his cross straight behind the goal for a goal-kick.

Camara takes the field flying and gets a snap shot away from just outside the box but it is a comfortable save for Fulop in the end.

More worrying signs for Stoke - Fuller has stayed down clutching his shoulder after falling awkwardly during the challenge from Collins and play stops for several minutes as the stretcher is brought on.

Fuller gets behind the Sunderland defence and breaks into the box but Collins puts in a superbly timed challenge to knock the ball away.

Sunderland put Stoke under a lengthy spell of pressure but neither Malbranque or Jones could break through their stubborn back-line in their attempts to get through on goal.

Whelan gets forward for Stoke and tries to pick out Fuller inside the box but Fulop is quick off his line and plucks the ball out of the air.

The ball drops to Kieran Richardson who lines up a shot but Ryan Shawcross charges it down.

The game is much more open than some will have predicted and both sides have had chances to take the lead so far.

Andy Reid receives the ball from a short corner and whips a dangerous-looking cross into the mixer. Cresswell misses his kick at the near post and it flies through to Danny Collins at the far post but he fails to connect with the ball.

Glenn Whelan has a chance to create something with a free-kick in a good position but the delivery is poor and Sunderland clear their lines.

Stoke come away down the flank and a cross sails into the box but it is just behind James Beattie who cannot direct his header goal-wards.

The free-kick bobbles inside the Sunderland box and Richard Cresswell gets an acrobatic bicycle-kick away that flashes past the far post. Great technique from Cresswell and that chance deserved a goal.

Ricardo Fuller reaches the byline and tries to turn his marker but is brought down in a very dangerous position.

Jones cuts inside Abdoulaye Faye and strikes a shot sweetly with his left foot and Thomas Sorensen does well to fist the ball to safety. Cisse meanwhile is unhappy in the box as he felt his strike partner may have squared the opportunity.

Steed Malbranque gets into a good position and tries to pick out Djibril Cisse but Stephen Kelly puts in a good interception.

Kenwyne Jones is playing against a former club today after spending some time on loan at the Britannia stadium but has not seen much of the ball so far.

Ironic cheers from the Sunderland fans as Andy Wilkinson tries to make up for the absence of Rory Delap with a long throw but makes a mess of it and gifts possession back to the home side.