SUNDERLAND have slipped into the Premier League's bottom three despite earning a point against Stoke City.

Connor Wickham opened the scoring at the Britannia Stadium after just 58 seconds, bundling home from four yards, following a mistake from Stoke goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic.

However, midfielder Charlie Adam equalised for the home side with a superb strike from 25 yards in the 27th minute.

Jermain Defoe wasted an excellent chance to restore Sunderland's lead at the end of the first half while Costel Pantilimon produced a superb save to deny Charlie Adam in the 88th minute as Stoke dominated the second half.

Due to wins for Leicester City and Hull City over Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively, Sunderland drop to 18th. Stoke remain in 9th.

Sunderland: Pantilimon; Jones, O'Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, Gomez, Rodwell, Buckley (Graham, 45); Defoe, Wickham. Subs: Mannone, Vergini, Bridcutt, Honeyman, Reveillere, Agnew.

Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron (Bardsley, 87), Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Adam, Ireland, N'Zonzi, Arnautovic; Walters (Odemwingie, 80), Diouf (Crouch, 71). Subs: Butland, Whelan, Wilson, Sidwell.