GUS Poyet believes Sunderland’s 3-1 win over Stoke will ease any doubts that had arisen from their six-game winless start to the season.

A Steven Fletcher brace followed an early goal from Connor Wickham to see the Black Cats earn their first victory of the season at the Stadium of Light.

Wickham gave the Wearsiders an early lead, but despite Charlie Adam equalising after a quarter of an hour, Fletcher marked his return to the starting line up with two well-taken goals.

The results moves Poyet’s side up to 11th in the table and the Uruguayan admits it was a big relief to finally taste victory.

“It's a good feeling. I'm very pleased for the players,” Poyet said.

“We knew inside the camp that we were a difficult team to play against, but without a win there are always some doubts and some nerves, so I think it was very important for the players to win this game.

“I'm very pleased for Fletcher because I know how hard it was for him to be in the situation where a few weeks ago I left him out of the squad.”