Alex Neil's Stoke City stunned Sunderland on his return to Wearside with his biggest win since leaving the Stadium of Light to take charge of the Potters in August.
After Will Smallbone's cutback set up Josh Laurent to give Stoke the lead just before the break, Tyrese Campbell put the Potters in command with an early first-half double in the space of four minutes.
Alex Pritchard gave Sunderland hope with a goal from close range, but former Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle then also came up with a brace to finish off the hosts.
Neil, who walked out on Sunderland in August to join Championship rivals Stoke, admitted that he was expecting a hostile reception on his first return - and he got one, being pelted with objects thrown from the stands and given a security escort.