Two strikers in the starting XI, three goals and a first Premier League win of the season. For once the numbers stacked up for Sunderland as Gus Poyet was rewarded for some ruthless decision-making allied to a slightly more dashing gameplan with this criticism-assauging victory.  Poyet’s quest for that hitherto elusive league win involved dropping both Jack Rodwell, his marquee summer signing, and Adam Johnson to the bench. Considering that the pair cost £10m apiece to purchase from Manchester City and have both played for England that was quite a statement.  “Leaving Jack and Johnno out were big decisions but it was for the benefit of the team,” said Poyet, who saw the recalled Steven Fletcher score his first two goals of 2014.  “It’s a very important win. We knew we were difficult to play against but, without winning there were always some doubts. Now we can say we’ve only lost one league game in seven. Something good’s happening here and we’ve confirmed it.”  The Uruguayan’s strategy soon seemed justified when Connor Wickham – deployed in a flexible wide role on the left of Sunderland’s 4-1-4-1 formation – gave the Wearsiders the lead in what was to prove an entertainingly open match.  Poyet’s decision to start both him and Fletcher was vindicated as the Scotland striker connected with a fifth-minute throw-in before turning his marker and crossing for Wickham to direct a header beyond Asmir Begovic.  With Lee Cattermole – a midfielder Mark Hughes attempted, forlornly, to sign for Stoke last January – prompting chants of “Cattermole for England,” Sunderland looked in the mood to atone for last month’s Capital One Cup defeat here against the same opponents.  Even so, this early optimism was momentarily deflated when Victor Moses advanced down the left and slipped a pass to Charlie Adam. The Scotland midfielder should rarely be underestimated and, sure enough, he proceeded to dodge one marker before threading a clever low left foot shot between John O’Shea’s legs and into the bottom corner.  That equaliser flattered to deceive on a day which marked a dip in Stoke’s largely impressive evolution under Tony Pulis’s successor. “Charlie was one of our few bright lights,” said Hughes. “It was a fine finish from him but it wasn’t great from us, we didn’t create enough.”  Sensing opportunity, Sunderland rallied. Fletcher has struggled to win Poyet over this season, sometimes failing to even make the bench but, restored at centre forward, he proved his worth by losing Marc Wilson, his supposed minder, meeting Jordi Gómez’s cross and whipping a header past Begovic.  Although Will Buckley’s audacious lob subsequently brought the very best out of the visiting goalkeeper, Stoke sporadically looked like getting back into things. Indeed only an excellent Vito Mannone save prevented Peter Crouch from equalising with an acrobatic volley on the brink of half-time.  Poyet received a further warning as Steven N’Zonzi and friends began imposing themselves in midfield, leaving Cattermole with an awful lot of fires to fight. Fresh legs were called for and Johnson’s introduction was followed by that of Rodwell and Liam Bridcutt as Buckley, Larsson and Gomez made way.  Once more, Sunderland’s manager exhibited a golden touch in the decision-making department. Revitalised, Sunderland scored again after Wickham’s defender-disorientating surge, during which the England Under-21 international did extremely well to remain on his feet, carried him into the area and Fletcher’s left-foot shot did the rest. Poyet should play those two together more often.  “They were outstanding,” said Sunderland’s manager. “I’m pleased for Fletch; I know how hard he found it when I left him out of the squad. He was professional but he wasn’t happy.”  Wickham’s willingness to step to the left helped. “I asked Connor to go a little bit wide,” added Poyet. “And he likes it, which surprises me.” Presumably in a good way.
Steven Fletcher scored twice to secure a 3-1 victory for Sunderland after Stoke’s Charlie Adam had cancelled out Connor Wickham’s early opener