In freezing conditions, it was Sunderland who came out on top in the battle of the blizzard. James McClean continued his sterling form under Martin O’Neill to grab the only goal of the game on the hour mark to provide the Black Cats with yet another win.

Date: 4^th February 2012

Venue: Britannia Stadium

Attendance: 27,717

Score: 0-1.

Scorers: McClean (60)

Yellow Cards: O’Shea.

Red Cards: Huth.

Line-ups
Stoke City Sorensen, Delap, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Walters, Crouch, Jerome. Subs: Woodgate, Shotton, Fuller.

Sunderland Mignolet, O’Shea, Turner, Bardsley, Richardson, McClean, Meyler, Gardner, Colback, Sessegnon. Subs: Elmohamady.

Full Match Report
As the pitch was still being cleared right up until kick-off, some Sunderland fans must’ve been worried that they were about to be told to take the long journey back to Wearside without seeing a ball kicked. But the game went ahead, and Stoke started the stronger – Marc Wilson drove the ball into a clutch of defenders following a Stoke corner.

Sessegnon had the first shot for Sunderland as the snow stopped both sides from playing their game, although his effort was deflected away, before he saw another one fizz wide. Walters returned fire, but Mignolet was equal to the effort before the game’s big controversy came.

With time in the first-half ebbing away, Robert Huth was sent off for a challenge on David Meyler. Martin Atkinson – who must be applauded for keeping the game going despite the avalanche-esque conditions – brandished a straight red, although replays showed that this could well have been the wrong decision. Stoke had to substitute the creativity of Pennant to sure up the hole in defence, and from then on it was Sunderland’s game.

After Wilson had another long-range effort, James McClean received a pass from Sessegnon and powered forward through the snow and past Wilkinson and Shawcross. With only Sorensen to beat, the Irishman kept a cool head to slot past the experienced Dane and give his side the lead.

Delap lashed his attempt at an immediate response wide, while Jon Walters’ effort went high and wide. Crouch directed a header straight at Mignolet; while Ricardo Fuller’s speculative effort was saved well by Mignolet. Wilson had the last shot of the match as Sunderland survived the wintry conditions to claim a win, and leapfrog Stoke in the table.

Man of the Match: James McClean – The youngster maintained his sweltering form with an assured performance today in the snow at Stoke. His goal was the icing on the cake for a young man who is becoming a very hot prospect.