A FIRST Premier League goal for Patrick van Aanholt helped Sunderland climb two points clear of the relegation zone after finally capitalising on the extra man against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats, claiming a third clean sheet from Sam Allardyce’s six matches in charge, had to be patient after Ryan Shawcross was sent off shortly after half-time but van Aanholt’s goal was worth the wait for the home fans.

The Dutchman’s lovely low finish from distance, his second for the club following his FA Cup strike last season, with eight minutes remaining was soon followed by a second when the lively Duncan Watmore completed the win.

While Stoke boss Mark Hughes was frustrated with Shawcross’ dismissal, Allardyce and his players will not care too much after Sunderland climbed out of the bottom three for the first time this season with their first back-to-back wins since May.

Sunderland passed the ball around with greater confidence after Monday’s victory at Crystal Palace and they retained the more solid approach at the back which served them so well at Selhurst Park.

Allardyce felt there was no need to change things, so he stuck with the five at the back system even though he did have to replace the suspended Billy Jones with DeAndre Yedlin.

Sunderland were first to create a decent chance, when Jermain Defoe drilled a low shot wide after some clever link up play with Seb Larsson on the edge of the Stoke penalty area.

Shortly after that Defoe had to make way, seemingly uncomfortable with twinges in his hamstring and Watmore brought some extra vibrancy to the home side’s attacks which caused the visitors problems.

But the best save of the half was at the other end when Costel Pantilimon made a stunning point-blank stop to deny Jonathan Walters from delivering the lead; fittingly it arrived in the 32nd minute as Sunderland fans applauded in memory of former goalkeeper Marton Fulop, who passed away aged 32.

The big boost Sunderland wanted arrived after the restart. Shawcross, who had been cautioned in the first half for a trip on Steven Fletcher, was adjudged to have brought down Watmore on the edge of his box when he may have got a touch.

Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation and Sunderland played the remaining 43 minutes against ten men and it looked that way, particularly after Jeremain Lens’ introduction.

Lens’ creative spark was instantly pivotal. In his first five minutes on the pitch he created a shot for Yann M’Vila and a header for Sebastian Coates but goalkeeper Butland was equal to them both.

There was still no breakthrough with 16 minutes remaining, though, so Allardyce introduced Adam Johnson too, scrapping the five at the back system by taking off skipper John O’Shea.

It was Johnson who won the free-kick, a foul from Eirik Pieters, which led to the opener. Johnson rolled the dead ball in to the path of van Aanholt to power a low shot inside Butland’s bottom left corner.

Two minutes later the second arrived as well, so Sunderland fans could enjoy the final six minutes. This time Yedlin’s quick throw over the Stoke defence sent Watmore clear and he cut inside from the right before picking out the far corner of Butland’s net.

SUNDERLAND (5-3-2): Pantilimon; Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea (Johnson 74), Kaboul, Van Aanholt; M’Vila, Cattermole, Larsson (Lens 54); Defoe (Watmore 31), Fletcher.

Subs (not used): Mannone (gk), Borini, Toivonen, Matthews.

STOKE (4-4-1-1): Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Shaqiri, Whelan, Adam (Afellay 85), Arnautovic; Bojan (Cameron 50); Walters.

Subs (not used): Haugaard, Wilson, van Ginkel, Diouf, Crouch.

HOW TWITTER REACTED TO THE WIN:

Chris Robson ‏@Robbo_SAFC  

WOAH! We've won 2 games on the trot and it's not even the last month of the season! WOAH!!!!!!!!!

Tinders ‏@safctinders  

All this hype about #Vardy. Don't get too carried away, son... PVA is catching you!

Alan Bell ‏@officialAHBell  

Great win today as we remember #MartonFulop. Gone but never forgotten. #SAFC 

Ross Black ‏@RBlack95  

Buzzing for PVA mind. Took a lot of stick and has come back and looked the player we signed last season. Great finish #SAFC

Sam ‏@SR19__  

So happy for Watmore today. In and out of the game but a threat when he was in. Goal was well deserved... Keeps getting better! #safc

NDJ0602 ‏@NDJ0602

Think we can all agree now that 3-5-2 the way to start until we get ourselves into a solid position. Only then throw your attackers on #SAFC