Summer signing Allen scored a match-winning brace as Mark Hughes tasted victory for the first time this season - but David Moyes' wait for a win goes on
Joe Allen maintained his hot scoring streak to earn Stoke their first Premier League win in their basement battle with Sunderland.
Allen can't stop scoring and he netted in the fourth consecutive game for Stoke and Wales with two efforts to take his tally for club and country to six.
The midfielder converted Marko Arnautovic's cross for the opener on eight minutes at the bet365 Stadium before firing home in first-half stoppage time when Sunderland failed to clear a corner.
The loss leaves Sunderland still searching for their first three points of the campaign and they were desperately poor.
They also lost Patrick van Aanholt - their only league scorer apart from Jermain Defoe this season - to injury to add to their long crock list.
1. Pushing Joe Allen forward into the No 10 role was inspired by Mark Hughes
Hughes knew Allen was in great goalscoring form, having netted in each of his previous three games for club and country, and gave him the chance to add to his tally by playing him in a more advanced role. It paid off big time as he scored twice in the first half to earn
Stoke a huge win.
Stoke a huge win.
2. Watching England assistant boss Sammy Lee will have been impressed by Jason Pickford
Pickford got his first senior call-up for the last England squad after just a handful of games for Sunderland.
He was one of Sunderland's few decent performers and made a couple of great saves to deny Geoff Cameron, Wilfried Bony and Allen.
3) Marko Arnautovic is determined to rescue Stoke
Arnautovic was so fired up, he hit a female fan in the face with a shot in the warm-up. After consoling her, he grabbed centre stage with his dynamic display and timed a run perfectly to dink the ball in for Allen to score. It was Stoke's first assist of the season and the Austrian will deliver plenty more if he keeps playing like this.
4. Keeping Sunderland up will rank as David Moyes' greatest achievement
Moyes achieved much with Preston and Everton, but beating the drop with Sunderland will top the lot on the evidence of this disappointing display. Yes, they have a treatment room full of injuries and lost Patrick van Aanholt, but they are heading for the Championship on this form.
5. Sunderland would not be struggling if their performances matched their support
The backing from the sold-out away end was superb and they never stopped singing as the Stoke goals went in. They hailed Pickford as "one of our own" in acknowledgment of his defiant display. They deserve much better than to be witnessing yet another relegation
battle.
battle.
Player ratings
Stoke City
Grant 6
Was well protected by his backline and saved a simple free-kick from Khazri.
Bardsley 6
Came in for the injured Glen Johnson and was solid at right-back.
Shawcross 7
Made a superb block on Defoe just as the striker was pulling the trigger.
Martins Indi 7
Excellent distribution from the Dutchman and he has settled in well.
Pieters 6
Supported Arnautovic on the left flank and was full of running.
Cameron 7
Produced one good early run and was denied a goal by Pickford.
Whelan 7
Great passing and always made himself available to his team-mates.
Was well protected by his backline and saved a simple free-kick from Khazri.
Bardsley 6
Came in for the injured Glen Johnson and was solid at right-back.
Shawcross 7
Made a superb block on Defoe just as the striker was pulling the trigger.
Martins Indi 7
Excellent distribution from the Dutchman and he has settled in well.
Pieters 6
Supported Arnautovic on the left flank and was full of running.
Cameron 7
Produced one good early run and was denied a goal by Pickford.
Whelan 7
Great passing and always made himself available to his team-mates.
Shaqiri 7
Was busy and played in Arnautovic in the build-up to the first goal.
Allen 8
MOTM. Is in the form of his life and continued his hot streak with two goals.
Arnautovic 8
Booked. Created Allen's first and was a contast menace for Stoke.
Bony 6
Improved markedly and was denied a first Stoke goal by Pickford.
Subs: Adam (Bardsley 64mins) 6, Muniesa (Allen 75mins) 6, Walters
(Bony 75mins) 6.
Subs not used: Given, Diouf, Crouch, Bojan.
Sunderland
Pickford 7
Fine display in front of the watching England No 2 Sammy Lee.
Manquillo 5
Had an uncomfortable afternoon up against the rampant Arnautovic.
O'Shea 5
Survived a penalty appeal for handball and had a difficult time.
Djilobodji 6
Worked hard to try and made a good block to prevent a goal.
Van Aanholt 6
Battled hard against Shaqiri before going off injured before half-time.
Fine display in front of the watching England No 2 Sammy Lee.
Manquillo 5
Had an uncomfortable afternoon up against the rampant Arnautovic.
O'Shea 5
Survived a penalty appeal for handball and had a difficult time.
Djilobodji 6
Worked hard to try and made a good block to prevent a goal.
Van Aanholt 6
Battled hard against Shaqiri before going off injured before half-time.
Watmore 6
The talented winger provided glimpses of what he can do.
McNair 6
Was creative and got back to help out his under-pressure defence.
Rodwell 4
Had a shot blocked, but he needs to stand up and be counted.
N'Dong 5
Was another Sunderland player who did not show enough.
Khazri 6
Had his moments and created a couple of half chances for Defoe.
Defoe 6
Fed off scraps, but still managed to pose a threat for Sunderland.
Subs: Booked. Jones (van Aanholt 40mins) 5, Pienaar (McNair 55mins) 5,
Anichebe (Rodwell 81mins).
Subs not used: Mika, Love, Asoro, Gooch.
Referee: Mike Jones Att: 27,701.
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