Jermain Defoe rescued a point for Sunderland with a 94th-minute penalty, as the Black Cats slipped back into the relegation zone after a terrible performance at Stoke.
Despite the Wearsiders ending the first half in good spirits, the Potters took the lead after Peter Crouch headed the ball to the feet of Marko Arnautovic – seemingly fouling Younes Kaboul in the process.
Sunderland never looked like recovering from the goal, despite the introduction of Duncan Watmore with half an hour to go.
After the news broke that relegation rivals Newcastle had taken the lead against Crystal Palace, the Sunderland fans seemed sure that the Black Cats were going to drop behind in the race to beat relegation.
That was until Geoff Cameron fouled Jermain Defoe in the box in the 93rd minute after the England striker made a brilliant turn in the box. Referee Craig Pawson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, from which Defoe duly converted.
Newcastle’s win against Palace means the Black Cats drop back into the relegation zone, one point behind the Magpies, but have a game in hand over both Norwich and Newcastle.
If Sunderland are to beat the drop once again, and maintain Big Sam’s record of never being relegated from the Premier League, they are going to need every point they can get.
Stoke City Starting XI: Haugaard, Bardsley, Shawcross (c), Cameron, Pieters, Whelan, Imbula, Shaqiri (Diouf 78), Adam (Muniesa 86), Arnautovic (Walters 56), Crouch
Substitutes: Bachmann, Muniesa, Wollscheid, Krkic, Diouf, Joselu, Walters
Sunderland Starting XI: Mannone, Yedlin, Koné, Kaboul, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff (Larsson 77), Borini (N’Doye 59), M’Vila, Cattermole (c), Khazri (Watmore 59), Defoe
Substitutes: Pickford, Jones, O’Shea, Larsson, Rodwell, Watmore, N’Doye
Goals: Arnautovic (50), Defoe (90+4 P)
Bookings: Adam (74, Foul Play), N’Doye (79, Foul Play), Imbula (82, Foul Play), Larsson (90, Dissent)
Attendance: 27,667
