A second win of the season, a hard-fought away victory, a first clean sheet of the campaign, and another goal for Ross Stewart. Yet it was typical of Alex Neil to keep both feet planted very firmly on the ground and to cast a critical eye over what most Sunderland fans considered a pretty good day's work.
The first question in his post-match press conference invited him to express pride in the way his side had performed against a dangerous Stoke City team, and was greeted with a laundry list of their shortcomings in the first half. "I think the only positive we took from the first half was that we scored," he said.
"I thought we were really disappointing, we didn't really do anything that we have done well for a long period of time - we didn't compete well, we didn't land on second balls well enough, we didn't use the ball well enough."
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Neil was quick to point out that Stewart's goal, scored in first half injury time but completely against the run of play in the first period, did not alter his planned half-time teamtalk one iota. He said: "My half-time teamtalk didn't change whatsoever because of the goal.
"The lads know the standards expected, they know what we expect from them individually and collectively, and they didn't reach those standards in the first half."
He admitted his side looked 'leggy', although there were were extenuating circumstances in that Sunderland played for an hour with ten men against Sheffield United - one of the best sides in the Championship - less than 72 hours earlier. In fact, Neil was not really as unhappy as he made out.
He went on to point out that no team can play well all the time, and when you are not at your best then it is the 'determination, the grittiness, the defensive structure' that comes to the fore. Sunderland certainly had to show plenty of all three of those qualities against Stoke, particularly in the first half.
In that opening 45 minutes Stoke were faster, stronger, and more aggressive at the bet365 Stadium, typified by Liam Delap - son of former Sunderland man Rory - who was just too strong for right-sided centre-back Luke O'Nien, swatting him aside with ease on several occasions. It needed some crucial saves from Anthony Patterson to deny Jacob Brown and Lewis Baker, some vital blocks, and some important clearances, to keep them at bay.
It paid off, though, when Sunderland took the lead two minutes into added time, when one-time Stoke loanee Jack Clarke turned and clipped a ball over the defence to release Stewart running through on goal and his shot beat Joe Bursik to find the bottom left-hand corner. It was Stewart's third goal of the season and it continues his fine start.
It was no surprise that O'Nien and Jay Matete, both of whom had been booked in the first half, were taken off at half-time with Bailey Wright and fit-again skipper Corry Evans brought on to add some extra physicality and nous. And in the second period Sunderland improved significantly, made life tougher for the Potters with Danny Batth and Dennis Cirkin particularly impressive, and carried a greater threat going forward.
Ellis Simms and Elliot Embleton missed the target when they should have done better, Evans drew a save out of Bursik, and in the final few minutes Stewart should have killed the game when he rounded the keeper but by the time he had retrieved the ball there was a man on the line and in trying to steer his shot past him, he sent it wide. Stoke could have equalised ten minutes from time when sub Dwight Gayle got in behind Batth, but the former Newcastle man missed the target when he should have scored and it was arguably the hosts' only genuine clear-cut chance of the half.
Sunderland closed the game out to protect that precious clean sheet and with it the points. Five games into the season, and with eight points already on the board, Sunderland have made a very good start.
The challenge for the club now is to provide Neil with the signings he needs before the transfer deadline to strengthen his squad, and make it possible to build on the platform he has created.
READ NEXT:
- Alex Neil on Sunderland's first half frustration at Stoke, and a much-improved second period
- Patterson, Cirkin, and Stewart star for Black Cats: Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland player ratings
- Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland report as in-form Ross Stewart scores again to earn a hard-fought victory
- Patrick Roberts told to bide his time as he will have a 'huge part to play' in Sunderland's season
- Alex Neil on the rare 'selfless dressing room' culture that has been built at Sunderland
