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.
READ MORE: Sunderland humiliated by Stoke City as Alex Neil enjoys winning return to the Stadium of Light
Here's how our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter rated the players.
Anthony Patterson 6
Might have done better with the fifth goal, but made one brilliant save to deny Gayle a hat-trick
Trai Hume 5
Part of a defensive unit that fell apart in the second half
Dan Ballard 4
A good first half, but in the second half Sunderland's defence was atrocious
Danny Batth 4
See above
Aji Alese 5
Not at his best in the first half, but came off before the roof fell in
Dan Neil 4
Booked early on and had to tread carefully, and his error led directly to the second goal
Alex Pritchard 6
Did OK on his return to the team and at least he got on the scoresheet
Patrick Roberts 5
Provided the assist for Pritchard and offered other moments of danger, but too often there was no end product
Amad 5
A couple of neat touches and was involved in the build-up to the goal, but still far below his best
Jack Clarke 6
A threat down the left, particularly in the first half
Joe Gelhardt 4
Poor in the first half and it was no surprise he was hooked at half-time
Subs
Edouard Michut 5
For Gelhardt 46mins. Struggled to make an impact - not the 20th birthday he would have envisaged
Luke O'Nien 4
For Alese 46mins. Came on at left-back and gave the ball away in the lead-up to the third goal
Not used: Bass, Ba, Bennette, Lihadji, Ekwah
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