ANY over-optimistic hopes Sunderland fans may have had about taking control of the Division One promotion race were given a reality check at Stoke City last night.

A disastrous first-half showing by the Black Cats ensured their chances of winning five in a row for the first time since December 2000 ended with a 3-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.

In a bruising battle, Black Cats midfielder Sean Thornton saw red for two yellow cards - picked up for a couple of late tackles on City's former England Under-21 international John Eustace. Despite an improved performance after the restart, the damage had already been done to Sunderland's hopes of climbing into the top two.

Gangly forward Gifton Noel-Williams handed the home side the lead before 20-year-old Darel Russell made the most of lapses in concentration at the back with a deadly double.

Sunderland's own towering centre-forward Kevin Kyle put his side back in with a slim chance, early in the second half, with his second goal in as many games.

But Sunderland's rejuvenation came to an abrupt end at Stoke - where no fewer than eight bookings were shown by referee Mike Pike. Tempers boiled over from both sides late on, when a lunge by Thomas Butler on Paul Williams led to 19 players all becoming involved in a melee.

Nothing could effect the result though, and Sunderland will now be hoping to bounce back at Derby on Saturday.

If Sunderland, making three changes to the side which overcame Crystal Palace, thought a trip to struggling Stoke was going to be easy, they soon realised life is not always what it seems.

After Julio - back in his less preferred left-midfield role - had curled a cross straight into goalkeeper Ed de Goey's hands, the adventurous home side settled into a quick and fluent passing style.

Sean Thornton's mis-placed pass across his own penalty area was intercepted by striker Chris Greenacre; one of three playing up front for the Potters.

And Thornton had George McCartney to thank for Stoke's failure to take the lead, when the young defender ran across to block the long range effort from ex-Mansfield Town man Greenacre.

That unease in the Sunderland half handed the initiative to Stoke, who had opened by far the brighter of the two sides.

McCarthy had surprisingly handed 20-year-old Craig James his first appearance for the club at left-back and Stoke boss Tony Pulis had obviously spotted the potential weak link in their opponents.

Roving right wing-back Russell burst down the line, beyond James, and Gary Breen had to be alert to head clear over his own crossbar.

It did not get any better for Sunderland; in fact things got much worse. In a devastating quarter-of-an-hour spell, starting in the 24th minute, Stoke wrapped the game up before half-time.

Former Watford striker Noel-Williams scored the opener. He was allowed the time and space in the Sunderland penalty area to control a Carl Asaba cross, and then turn and rifle a left-foot shot beyond a helpless Poom from six yards.

A victim of the Russian revolution at Chelsea, de Goey, released by the Blues, then made two world class saves to deny Thornton and Kevin Kyle.

Both incidents proved to be even more valuable than first thought when Stoke broke down the left through Asaba, who laid the ball to the onrushing Russell to fire in his side's second after 37 minutes.

Less than 60 seconds later, a buoyant Russell compounded James' misery on the night.

Stoke's snip from Norwich City in the summer, burst past his young marker, before his chip to the back post evaded everyone and landed in Poom's far corner. Three nil and game over for the Black Cats.

Stoke's buzzing players were left waiting for the restart, as McCarthy kept his under-performers in the dressing room for some stern words.

Whatever he said had the desired effect, as - who had replaced Breen with Joachim Bjorklund - decided to make a fight of it.

Centre-back McCartney went close with a header before the visitors handed themselves a lifeline through Kyle after 54 minutes.

The giant Scotsman's initial header, from Marcus Stewart's cross, was well saved by de Goey. But the Dutchman could do nothing about Kyle's second close-range header which hit the back of the net. Nine minutes further prevailed and still no second goal for Sunderland.

It was a period which convinced McCarthy to switch Arca back to left-back and replace James with Thomas Butler - a decision the manager may now have wished he had opted for in the first place perhaps?

Sunderland were now looking more like a side that had won its previous four matches.

But chances for Stewart, searching for his fifth goal in as many games, and Thornton both went begging before the latter's sending off with 16 minutes remaining.

l Mick McCarthy was last night linked with a move for Newcastle's transfer-listed defender Nikos Dabizas. The Sunderland boss watched the Greece international in action for Newcastle Reserves against Wolves on Monday.