Kitson finished well for his second ever goal for Stoke
By Saj Chowdhury
Dave Kitson's strike just before half-time earned Stoke victory against Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.
The former Reading player guided his effort past Craig Gordon after a scramble in the area.
Stoke had the best of the chances, with Liam Lawrence twice having his goalbound shots blocked - first by goalkeeper Gordon then Phil Bardsley.
Sunderland striker Darren Bent went close with a 20-yard shot and Bardsley forced a save from Thomas Sorensen.
The match was a fairly tepid affair until the last 10 minutes of the first half.
The efforts worthy of a mention were that of Kitson's, a snapshot over the bar from eight yards, and Bent's angled shot at the other end which was bravely blocked by Ryan Shawcross.
Apart from those half-chances, Sunderland had dealt relatively well with Rory Delap's long throw-ins while Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye had nullified the double threat of Bent and Kenwyne Jones.
But with the interval approaching, clear chances increased in frequency.
First, Lawrence pounced on a weak headed backpass from Anton Ferdinand, only to see his poked shot blocked by the agile Gordon.
Then in the following attack, Sunderland came close when Bent's cute turn-and-shot from 20 yards missed Sorensen's upright by fractions.
The next Stoke foray forward saw the deadlock broken. Lawrence's corner from the left was only cleared as far as Danny Higginbotham who headed the ball back into area.
Pulis planning further transfers
In the subsequent scramble, the ball landed perfectly for Kitson who made sure he got his foot over the bouncing ball and smashed in for his first league goal for the Potters, having scored his first goal for the club last week.
Steve Bruce's Sunderland went into the game with six points from three games, but in the second half they rarely looked as if they would add to that tally with their defence under the cosh for most of it.
Stoke came close to increasing their advantage when Lawrence's fierce effort from the edge of the area was blocked by Bardsley.
Moments later, Stoke's top scorer last season, Ricardo Fuller, blazed his angled shot from 10 yards over the bar.
Corners are our achilles heel - Bruce
Sunderland pressed at the other end but a low drive from Bardsley, which was well held by the rarely-troubled Sorensen, was the only time they breached Stoke's backline during the second-half.
Despite holding a slender lead, Potters boss Tony Pulis handed striker Tuncay and defender Robert Huth their debuts in closing minutes.
And the pair ensured that their new club held on to record their second win of the Premier League season.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis: "We've come off the pitch with a clean sheet and are very happy - we coped with the threat very well.
On goalscorer Dave Kitson: "Dave will only improve. Goalscorers live off confidence, and having scored in the cup and league can only help him.
"Dave looks a lot more settled this Premier League season.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce: "Our Achilles heel was to defending corner kicks.
"Bolton, Blackburn and now Stoke have asked the questions and three out of five goals we've conceded have been from set pieces.
"We were more spirited in the second half but couldn't deliver that final ball into the box."
90:00+4:31 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+2:54 A cross is delivered by Andy Reid.
90:00+2:36 The ball is crossed by Nyron Nosworthy.
90:00+1:15 Phillip Bardsley delivers the ball.
90:00+0:36 Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Save by Craig Gordon.
88:31 Short corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line.
88:31 Substitution Robert Huth joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dave Kitson.
88:31 Tuncay Sanli delivers the ball, George McCartney manages to make a clearance.
87:31 The ball is sent over by Phillip Bardsley, Thomas Sorensen makes a save.
87:18 Handball decision goes against Dave Kitson. Phillip Bardsley restarts play with the free kick.
85:52 Nyron Nosworthy fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.
84:17 The ball is crossed by Dave Kitson.
83:54 Dave Kitson challenges Lorik Cana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Phillip Bardsley takes the direct free kick.
83:17 Substitution Tuncay Sanli comes on in place of Ricardo Fuller.
81:50 Fraizer Campbell takes a shot. Danny Higginbotham gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Andy Reid to the near post,
Dave Kitson manages to make a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Andy Reid, Ryan Shawcross manages to make a clearance.
The ball is swung over by Phillip Bardsley, Ryan Shawcross manages to make a clearance. Centre by Andy Reid.
80:39 A cross is delivered by Fraizer Campbell, save by Thomas Sorensen.
80:29 The ball is crossed by Phillip Bardsley, clearance made by Ryan Shawcross.
80:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ricardo Fuller on Phillip Bardsley. Direct free kick taken by Phillip Bardsley.
79:30 Substitution Jordan Henderson is brought on as a substitute for Lee Cattermole.
78:41 Phillip Bardsley takes a shot. Save made by Thomas Sorensen.
78:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nyron Nosworthy by Dave Kitson. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
77:09 Thomas Sorensen takes the free kick.
77:09 Substitution Dean Whitehead on for Matthew Etherington.
77:09 Kenwyne Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Shawcross.
75:17 Header by Fraizer Campbell from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
73:57 Unfair challenge on Abdoulaye Faye by Kenwyne Jones results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Sorensen.
72:23 Outswinging corner taken by Andy Reid, Rory Delap manages to make a clearance.
71:30 Andy Reid takes a shot. Abdoulaye Faye gets a block in.
70:26 The ball is crossed by Liam Lawrence, Phillip Bardsley makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence,
Headed effort from inside the area by Dave Kitson misses to the left of the target.
68:47 Ricardo Fuller produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.
68:03 Corner from the right by-line taken by Andy Reid, save made by Thomas Sorensen.
66:33 Andy Reid crosses the ball, clearance by Abdoulaye Faye.
66:13 Matthew Etherington takes a shot. Craig Gordon makes a save.
65:59 The ball is swung over by Liam Lawrence.
65:20 Lee Cattermole delivers the ball, Ryan Shawcross makes a clearance.
64:01 Liam Lawrence restarts play with the free kick.
64:01 Booking Lorik Cana is shown a yellow card.
63:56 Matthew Etherington fouled by Lorik Cana, the ref awards a free kick.
63:23 Unfair challenge on Phillip Bardsley by Ricardo Fuller results in a free kick. Nyron Nosworthy takes the free kick.
Correction - 61:51 Centre by Fraizer Campbell, Andy Wilkinson gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andy Reid, Nyron Nosworthy
takes a shot. Save made by Thomas Sorensen.
61:51 A cross is delivered by Fraizer Campbell, Andy Wilkinson gets a block in. Corner taken by Andy Reid, Darren Bent takes a shot.
Save made by Thomas Sorensen.
57:46 Phillip Bardsley takes the direct free kick.
57:46 Substitution Andy Reid comes on in place of Kieran Richardson.
57:46 Substitution Fraizer Campbell on for Steed Malbranque.
57:46 Nyron Nosworthy fouled by Ricardo Fuller, the ref awards a free kick.
57:16 Phillip Bardsley delivers the ball, clearance made by Andy Wilkinson.
55:31 The official flags Ricardo Fuller offside. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.
54:41 Matthew Etherington crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, save by Craig Gordon.
54:41 Booking Caution for Nyron Nosworthy.
54:32 Nyron Nosworthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Fuller.
53:51 The referee blows for offside against Ricardo Fuller. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
51:02 The ball is crossed by Matthew Etherington, Close range headed effort by Liam Lawrence goes wide of the left-hand upright.
50:20 George McCartney produces a cross, save by Thomas Sorensen.
50:11 The ball is swung over by Lee Cattermole, clearance by Rory Delap.
48:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Lawrence on Kenwyne Jones. Steed Malbranque takes the direct free kick.
47:28 Glenn Whelan takes a shot. Nyron Nosworthy gets a block in. Corner taken by Matthew Etherington. Liam Lawrence takes a shot.
Blocked by Phillip Bardsley.
47:18 A cross is delivered by Rory Delap, Craig Gordon makes a save.
46:18 Matthew Etherington fouled by Lorik Cana, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Higginbotham takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:34 The referee blows for half time.
44:51 The ball is swung over by Matthew Etherington, Kenwyne Jones manages to make a clearance.
44:08 Liam Lawrence produces a cross, clearance by Phillip Bardsley. Inswinging corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line,
clearance by Lorik Cana.
42:17 GOAL - Dave Kitson:Stoke 1 - 0 Sunderland Dave Kitson grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stoke 1-0 Sunderland.
41:46 Liam Lawrence takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Darren Bent makes a clearance.
40:35 Effort from outside the penalty box by Darren Bent goes wide right of the goal.
38:54 Kieran Richardson fouled by Andy Wilkinson, the ref awards a free kick. Lorik Cana restarts play with the free kick.
38:08 The offside flag is raised against Kieran Richardson. Thomas Sorensen takes the free kick.
37:21 The ball is delivered by George McCartney. Steed Malbranque delivers the ball, blocked by Abdoulaye Faye. Corner taken left-footed
by Kieran Richardson to the near post, Ricardo Fuller manages to make a clearance.
36:54 Danny Higginbotham delivers the ball.
35:13 Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Blocked by Craig Gordon.
33:06 Corner taken left-footed by Kieran Richardson, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Lorik Cana goes harmlessly over
the crossbar.
31:48 Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Abdoulaye Faye misses to the left
of the goal.
31:21 Kieran Richardson delivers the ball.
30:39 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kieran Richardson, clearance made by Abdoulaye Faye.
26:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory Delap by Darren Bent. Free kick taken by Ryan Shawcross.
24:25 Effort from 25 yards by Glenn Whelan. Kenwyne Jones gets a block in. Liam Lawrence takes the inswinging corner, Abdoulaye
Faye produces a left-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
22:10 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Liam Lawrence, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy. Corner taken by Matthew
Etherington from the right by-line. Abdoulaye Faye is penalised for a handball. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.
20:32 Liam Lawrence sends in a cross.
16:22 Rory Delap delivers the ball, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew
Etherington.
15:35 Liam Lawrence sends in a cross.
Correction - 14:46 Darren Bent takes a shot. Danny Higginbotham gets a block in.
14:46 Darren Bent takes a shot. Blocked by Abdoulaye Faye.
13:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Etherington by Phillip Bardsley. Free kick taken by Danny Higginbotham.
12:37 Kieran Richardson takes a shot. Save made by Thomas Sorensen.
11:56 Kieran Richardson crosses the ball, Rory Delap makes a clearance.
11:33 Centre by Steed Malbranque. George McCartney produces a cross.
9:41 Inswinging corner taken by Steed Malbranque from the left by-line, Rory Delap manages to make a clearance.
8:41 Shot from deep inside the area by Dave Kitson clears the crossbar.
7:06 Steed Malbranque takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Abdoulaye Faye.
6:37 Matthew Etherington crosses the ball, save by Craig Gordon.
6:25 Liam Lawrence crosses the ball.
4:11 Darren Bent is caught offside. Thomas Sorensen takes the indirect free kick.
3:20 Dave Kitson concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Gordon. Craig Gordon takes the direct free kick.
1:05 Kieran Richardson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence. Andy Wilkinson restarts play with the free
kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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