MX23RW : Monday, November 25 12:41:17| >> :120:10634:10634:

Ten-man Sunderland hold on for draw

Sunderland come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw against Stoke City despite having Craig Gardner sent off in the first half.

Sunderland have moved three points clear of the relegation zone after holding Stoke City to a 1-1 draw despite being forced to play most of the game with 10 men.

Jon Walters celebrates with team mate Cameron Jerome after scoring the opener against Sunderland on May 6, 2013© AP Photos

The visitors took the lead after just nine minutes when Jonathan Walters poked the ball past Simon Mignolet at the second attempt having been found by Charlie Adam's corner.

Adam was also involved in the game's next big talking point as he was on the receiving end of a heavy Craig Gardner tackle. The referee adjudged the foul to be a dangerous one and showed Gardner a straight red card.

Sunderland came close to restoring parity right on the stroke of half time when Adam Johnson let fly from a free kick, but his effort fizzed just past the post.

Craig Gardner is shown a red card by referree Lee Mason during the first half against Stoke on May 6, 2013© AP Photos

Stoke almost doubled their lead just before the hour mark when Peter Crouch and Adam combined to tee up Cameron Jerome, but his goal-bound effort was well blocked.

It was the hosts who got the game's crucial second goal, however. Dean Whitehead got a touch to a Sebastian Larsson's corner, inadvertently flicking it on to John O'Shea, who poked it under Asmir Begovic at the back post.

John O'Shea celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Stoke on May 6, 2013© AP Photos

Whitehead almost made amends with 15 minutes left when he hit a well-struck shot from the edge of the area, but it was straight at Mignolet, who managed to hold on.

Sunderland then came within inches of nicking all three points in the 80th minute when Danny Rose cut inside from the left and fired a shot towards the near post. Begovic was nowhere near the ball as it flicked off the outside of the post on its way out.

Neither side could find a dramatic late winner in the closing stages as Sunderland picked up a point that lifts them up to 15th in the Premier League table.

ID:83138: cacheID:83138:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5189:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Stoke City player Jon Walters celebrates scoring his sides second goal in their FA Cup third round replay on January 15, 2015
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Stoke lead 10-man Sunderland
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!