Sunderland remain winless and rooted at the foot of the Premier League table after another inept display, at fellow-strugglers Stoke City on Saturday, led to a 2-0 defeat that could easily have been heavier.
A string of saves by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, fresh from a morale-boosting call-up to the England squad, saved David Moyes' side from greater embarrassment.
Feeble surrender of possession and slack defending were to blame in the build-up to each of Joe Allen's first half goals. While Sunderland had several breakaway attacks, they invariably broke down to allow Stoke to surge forward and threaten Pickford's goal.