Black Cats drop into danger zone

Stoke-on-Trent - Sunderland sank into the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday after in-form Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam struck to earn Stoke City a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

The visitors went ahead after only 58 seconds when Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic spilt a cross from Will Buckley and Sunderland striker Connor Wickham swept the ball home.

But Adam levelled in the 27th minute by crashing a shot into the roof of the net from Marko Arnautovic's lay-off to leave Sunderland in 18th place, a point from safety.