Sunderland appear to have run out of ideas but the board goes up and they will have three minutes of injury time to rescue something from this game.

Richardson easily beats Diao and plays in Jones on the right edge of the area. Its a decent shot but Sorensen has it covered and the crowd breathes a collective sigh of relief.

The back four of Stoke are remaining strong and dealing with the direct play of the visitors, but the midfield is starting to sit back which is inviting the pressure.

A great interchange between Delap and Tonge puts Fuller through in the box but his shot hits the upright and rebounds to safety.

The pressure appears to be getting to Sunderland as Jones goes for an ambitious effort from a tight angle and drags his shot well wide.

Sunderland inject some urgency in their play and Diouf goes for goal from 30 yards out but his effort is straight at Sorensen.

The free kick is pumped into the 'mixer' and is headed away by Jones but Diao launches a vicious volley from 30 yards out that goes just over the bar.

Sunderland break quickly from a Stoke attack and Diao is a very lucky boy not to receive a second yellow after tugging back Richardson's shirt, and amazingly the referee does not even award a free kick.

Stoke are getting plenty of balls in the box but their strikers are not reacting to the ball and consequently chances are not forthcoming.

Soares shows plenty of pace to get down the right and puts in a delightful cross, Ricardo Fuller's shot is blocked straight back into his face but the rebound is just of the reach of Sidibe.

Cisse goes for goal with a free kick from an acute angle and around 30 yards out, and the crowd enjoys watching it go well wide.

The game is more evenly balanced at the start of this second half but still neither keeper has been forced to answer too many questions.

The tempo has been raised by both sides but clearly Roy Keane has had something to say to his players at the break, and it is making for a tasty affair.

There are more tackles flying around at the start of the second period and Phil Bardsley has stayed down after being on the end of one, causing a stoppage in play.

Stoke win a free kick on the left and somehow Tom Soares' delivery eludes everyone in the box and curls wide of the far post.

As half-time approaches, Stoke have started to play more directly which is pegging the visitors back but again they eventually clear their lines.

Sunderland have finished the half well, considering they have been second-best in the encounter so far but Sorensen has had very little to do.

Another Delap long throw is flicked on by Sidibe. Nobody is arriving and it is half-cleared but the ball eventually falls to Ryan Shawcross, who swivels and pulls his shot wide.

Stoke hit back straight away and cause panic and successive corners at the Sunderland end, but again the visitors do enough and eventually get the ball clear.

Sunderland create a good opportunity after some nice wing-play from Steed Malbranque. His cross is met by Cisse but he can't keep his header on target.

On the balance of play, the Potters will feel they should be in front but there are now signs, worringly for the home fans, that the Black Cats are getting back into it.

Kieran Richardson's delivery is excellent and there is a brief scramble in the box before Stoke are able to clear.

Sunderland win a free kick on the right and the delivery is a good one but Delap puts it behind his own goal for the visitors' first corner.

Stoke have got some big players on the park and they often win flick-ons around the box which is causing the Black Cats back four plenty of anxiety, but as yet their goal remains intact.

There is a brief stoppage in play after McCartney took a knock on his ankle after a challenge from Tom Soares.

The crowd get excited every time Delap winds up one of his long throws but so far Sunderland are manging to cope with the pressure, although they are very much on the back foot.

Seyi Olofinjana goes for goal some 30 yards out and the swerve causes the keeper some problems, but Fulop just about manages to deal with it.

After a slow start, City are very much on top but, as they experienced on Sunday, they need to take one of their chances while they are bossing the play.

A sudden flurry of quick passing gives Ricardo Fuller a sight of goal some 25 yards out, but his curling effort is straight at Marton Fulop.

Stoke are starting to get on top which is getting the crowd into this game, and it is clear that the visitors are a little suspect at set-pieces.

Some nice passing by the home side frees Seyi Olofinjana in space but his volley from the right channel is saved by Sorensen.

Rory Delap comes forward to take his first long throw of the game. His bullet delivery causes problems in the Sunderland defence but somehow they get it clear.

Danny Higginbotham strides up to take it but his curling effort hits the wall and goes behind. However, the resulting corner is easily dealt with by Sunderland.

The home side are at last starting to string some passes together and win a free-kick 25 yards out after George McCartney tugs on Mamady Sidibe's shirt.

The Black Cats have settled quickly into the game and are dominating the opening exchanges as Stoke struggle to get hold of the ball.

Sunderland are quick to get the ball forward and Djibril Cisse wastes no time in firing the first shot of the game but it is easy for Thomas Sorensen.