Sunderland kicked off their Championship party with a laboured win over
stubborn Stoke.
Carl Robinson's second-half goal was the difference between the teams on an
afternoon of celebrations.
The Stadium of Light was a raucous sea of red and white as the Black Cat club
showed their appreciation for a terrific season.
Early on, Marcus Stewart, playing the last game of his Sunderland career sent
Dean Whitehead racing through with the deftest of flicks, only for the in-form
midfielder to be hauled back on the edge of the area.
Steve Simonsen in the Stoke goal saved the resulting free-kick from Steven
Caldwell.
But Stewart, one of those rightly singled out for praise by the fans, could
not put away the rebound.
Dave Brammer had the visitors' first effort, trying a free-kick from distance
as Stoke matched the Black Cats' drive in the opening exchanges.
Julio Arca then sent in the onrushing Whitehead who sliced narrowly wide
before the heavens opened.
As the thunder rolled overhead, Gifton Noel-Williams nodded wide for Stoke and
then Simonsen had to make a fine stop from newly-crowned Sunderland player of
the year George McCartney, whose 25-yard drive was goalbound.
Sunderland were having trouble shrugging off their lethargy as Karl Henry
nearly punished them with a rising effort.
At the start of the second half, the crafty Arca slipped McCartney in down the
left and his centre appeared to strike Gerry Taggart's hand in the box but the
referee waved play on.
Liam Lawrence then cut in from the right and sent a shot which narrowly
deflected past a wrong-footed Simonsen and struck the post.
In the 56th minute, the wide man created the opener when his free-kick from
the left was diverted in by Robinson's header.
The celebrations began with Mexican waves around the ground despite an
indifferent display on the pitch.
Motivation was clearly an issue and the Black Cats raised themselves only in
spurts against an ambitious opposition.
After Gary Breen fired over when a corner broke through on the edge of the
area, Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy, sensing the need for fresh impetus,
brought on Stephen Elliott, the club's young player of the year.
But even with Elliott on the pitch, Sunderland could not breach one of the
league's best defences a second time, meaning that Stewart was denied a goal on
his swansong.
He was replaced with seven minutes left on the clock, McCarthy affording the
former Ipswich man a fitting send-off with a standing ovation from an
appreciative crowd.
Teams
Sunderland Alnwick, Wright, Breen (Neill Collins 82),
Caldwell, McCartney, Lawrence, Whitehead, Robinson, Arca,
Stewart (Welsh 83), Brown (Elliott 71).
Subs Not Used: Carson, Deane.
Goals: Robinson 57.
Stoke Simonsen, Henry (Halls 74), Duberry, Taggart, Clarke,
Greenacre, Brammer, Russell, Buxton,
Noel-Williams (Paterson 60), Jones (Ricketts 73).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Neal.
Att: 47,350
Ref: A Leake (Lancashire).
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