Sunderland were crushed by Alex Neil's Stoke City at the Stadium of Light with the Black Cats falling apart in the second half. Neil, who was booed on his return to Wearside after leaving in August to take over the Potters, saw Josh Laurent put his side in front in controversial circumstances five minutes before the break.
And Tyrese Campbell scored a quickfire double before the hour to take the game away from Tony Mowbray's men. Alex Pritchard pulled a goal back just after the hour to give Sunderland a flicker of hope, but it proved to be shortlived.
Former Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle scored twice to round off a humiliating afternoon for the Black Cats. Sunderland have now lost three games in a row for the first time since they returned to the Championship, and they have slipped to tenth in the table.
