Joe Allen's scoring streak continued as his double gave Stoke a first Premier League victory of the season over winless Sunderland.
The Wales international shrugged off concerns over a hamstring problem with first-half goals that took his tally to five in four games for club and country, as Mark Hughes' men secured a 2-0 triumph in their eighth league fixture.
It was enough to at least temporarily move them out of a relegation zone that is still occupied by their opponents, who gave little evidence that a first Premier League win of the David Moyes era is around the corner.
Stoke City 2-0 Sunderland
