STOKE, England (AP) Stoke ended an eight-match winless streak in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory Saturday against Sunderland, which had Wes Brown sent off in controversial circumstances.
The hosts scored either side of the interval at the Britannia stadium.
Charlie Adam opened in the 30th, drilling in from Nzonzi's cut-back.
Six minutes later, referee Kevin Friend deemed a sliding tackle from Brown on Adam that appeared to win the ball fairly for the defender to merit a straight red card.
Stoke's win was sealed in the 81st when Steven Nzonzi slotted home after an assist from Peter Crouch.