Gyan gives Bruce striking options

Sunderland 2 Stoke

As secret weapons go, Asamoah Gyan has been kept well under the radar since Sunderland paid £13m for his services in August. Shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or following an impressive World Cup, the Ghanaian's talents have been well-hidden. Eight weeks after volleying a stunning debut goal at Wigan Athletic, Gyan finally made his first Premier League start and promptly earned Sunderland a win they needed after their humilation at Newcastle.

The self-styled "best league in the world" is light on global talent, Didier Drogba and Cesc Fabregas its only other candidates for the revamped world player of the year award, but its officials had a good World Cup, reaching the final. You would be well advised not to sing their praises in front of Tony Pullis, though.

Unbeaten in September, Stoke have lost five straight games in October and November and, with each defeat, Pullis's persecution complex over officialdom grows. "Do bad decisions even themselves out over the season? No not all, never, never, I have been in the game too long to believe that," said Pullis, who feels he is in the worst run of his career in that respect.

Gyan arrived in England out of condition and has been made to bide his time since finding it because of his team-mates' form. After that collapsed in a 5-1 humiliation at Newcastle United, Bruce rejigged to 4-4-2 but a hamstring injury Bent collected in training on Friday denied him the opportunity to pair his star strikers.

"I wasn't getting upset, I was just waiting for my time," Gyan said. "I understand the game. The team was doing well and you just can't make changes like that."

Steve Bruce was deliberately simplifying matters when he argued that Sunderland would have won 2-1 had Kenwyne Jones's "goal" stood. Seeking to cancel out Gyan's first-half tap-in, Jones headed Matthew Etherington's corner goalward. Stoke's players argued the whole of the ball had crossed the line before Lee Cattermole's block but referee Martin Atkinson and linesman Peter Kirkup awarded a corner. If not a goal, the decision should have been a penalty and a red card as the ball rolled along Cattermole's arm before being pushed away.

Instead of Sunderland playing the final 19 minutes without Cattermole, it was Stoke's captain who was soon dismissed, Ryan Shawcross receiving a second yellow card for fouling Danny Welbeck – another incorrect decision, Pullis argued. The ten men succumbed to a second when Robert Huth diverted Kieran Richadson's cross to Gyan.

Match facts

Man of the match Gyan Match rating 6/10.

Possession Sunderland 44% Stoke 56%

Shots on target Sunderland 9 Stoke 5

Referee M Atkinson (Yorkshire) Att 36,541