Kitson fires Stoke to 1-0 win over Sunderland

Aug 29, 2009 - 5:30 PM By GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Stoke boss Tony Pulis hailed match-winner Dave Kitson as the striker ended his 13-month wait for a Premier League goal to defeat Sunderland 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium.

Kitson capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to force the ball past Craig Gordon and claim his second goal for the club in four days.

The flame-haired front man has struggled to justify the 5.5 million pounds transfer fee Pulis paid Reading for his services in July 2008, having failed to find the target all last season and was even loaned back to his former club.

Pulis insists Kitson's confidence is now steadily improving and with James Beattie injured can carry the striking burden of the team.

Pulis said: "Strikers breed off confidence and these goals are only going to help Dave. He looks a lot more settled than he did last year and we are hoping for a big season from him.

"As pleased as I was to see Dave score it was also pleasing to see the defensive shift we put in against a team who have spent quite a bit of money on some expensive strikers.

"We looked strong and assured and a clean sheet at home is always nice."

A mediocre opening half was only livened up by the passion of the home support and sarcastic cheers when Sunderland were able to clear Rory Delap's trademark long throws, until three minutes from the break when the encounter sprung into life.

Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence was denied by Gordon following some suspect defending by Anton Ferdinand before Darren Bent went close at the other end, missing Thomas Sorensen's goal by inches.

Predictably though it was a Stoke set piece that opened Sunderland up as Lawrence's corner was headed back into the danger area by Danny Higginbotham and as chaos ensued with the Black Cats unable to clear, Kitson smashed in a half volley.

The onus was on Sunderland to then open up and attack with the front-pairing of Bent and Kenwyne Jones but it was Stoke after the break who looked the most likely to score.

Lawrence tried his luck from distance only for his shot to be blocked by Phil Bardsley and Ricardo Fuller should have done better when he blazed over from 15 yards.

Pulis handed debuts to 11 million pounds pairing Tuncay and Robert Huth, who arrived just 48 hours from Middlesbrough, and both settled into their new team with little trouble from the opposition.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce said: "Our Achilles heel was defending corners.

"Blackburn, Bolton and now Stoke has asked the questions and three out of the five goals we have conceded have been from set pieces.

"It improved a bit in the second half and we were more spirited but we could not find that final ball to create the necessary pressure."