SUNDERLAND’S Premier League survival fight took another turn for the worse after a depressing first half that left them playing catch-up against Stoke City.

The Potters cruised into a three-goal lead inside 34 minutes by taking advantage of some woeful play from the relegation-threatened Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

Magical Marko Arnautovic grabbed the first two goals in the 15th and 22nd minutes after some lovely build up play before Peter Crouch headed in the third 12 minutes later.

At that point Sunderland supporters, chanting ‘are you watching Ellis Short as the end of the transfer window approaches without any new recruits, booed and some left early.

It did spark Sunderland into life with, you guessed it, Jermain Defoe pulling one back five minutes before the break courtesy of a neat finish when he raced clear of the defence.

By that time Sunderland had already been beaten and it would have taken something special for Defoe to celebrate even a point on his 500th career appearance in the league.

The writing was on the wall when Sunderland, who recalled John O’Shea to the heart of the defence, passed the ball around sloppily and defended atrociously.

Stoke gained the lead when Xherdan Shaqiri’s brilliant diagonal ball over the head of Donald Love was brought down exceptionally by Arnautovic. His first effort was denied by Vito Mannone, the rebound, however, wasn’t.

Mannone was beaten inside his near post a second time when Arnautovic played two sublime one-twos with Shaqiri and then Crouch before beating the keeper.

And the third was a result of Mannone’s stupidity when he raced off his line to jump with beanpole striker Crouch, who had the simple task of heading into the empty net.

There might have been another seconds before the third too when Mannone fumbled a hopeful range shot from Shaqiri only for the Italian to be saved by the post.

After the restart, and Defoe’s 12th goal of the season, Sunderland started brightly and Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant had to be alert to deny Fabio Borini from adding a second for the home side.

In reality, despite a few threats to the Stoke goal, Sunderland didn’t deserve to bounce back from such an abysmal opening that smacked of a side doomed for the drop.

Sunderland remain a point shy of safety after a defeat for Crystal Palace, although Hull have leapfrogged them after winning at home to Bournemouth.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mannone; Love, O’Shea, Djilobodji, van Aanholt; Borini, Denayer, Rodwell, Larsson; Januzaj; Defoe. Subs (not used): Mika (gk), Jones, Honeyman, Maja, Embleton, Asoro, Manquillo.

STOKE CITY (4-4-2): Grant; Johnson, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Pieters; Whelan, Adam Afellay 68); Arnautovic, Allen, Shaqiri (Ngoy 88); Crouch. Subs: Given (gk), Bardsley, Muniesa, Imbula, Taylor.