Caretaker boss Ryan Shawcross admitted Stoke rode their luck at times against Sunderland as his side ended their long wait for a win in the Sky Bet Championship.
Shawcross made 453 appearances for the Potters as a player and was part of a successful period for the club which included a decade in the Premier League and their first-ever FA Cup Final appearance.
Such highs will have felt far away for the bet365 Stadium faithful, but they finally had something to cheer as Tom Cannon’s last-gasp goal gave them their first win in 10 games.
Shawcross, who stepped in after Narcis Pelach’s sacking on Friday, said: “We rode our luck at times, but I knew that was going to happen.
“I wanted us to press, I wanted us to get after the ball and I knew if we got it slightly wrong, they would cut through us, which they did because they’re a really good team.
“But I just felt them opportunities, like we did in the first 20 [minutes] with Cannon, I think Lewis [Koumas] had a chance, I understood the risk, but I’ve always been someone who would rather risk a win that just be boring.
“That was the plan and to be fair to the lads, with the day or so we’ve had, they were really receptive to what I asked and they executed it, for the majority, really well.
“The fans have always been great to me and when you give them something to look on and understand what you’re trying to do, they get behind you.”
After Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson had made fine saves to deny Wilson Isidor, Dan Neil and Adil Aouchiche, Tom Cannon won it for the hosts with a low drive in the second minute of stoppage time.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said: “I think after they had a very good moment at the beginning of the second half, when we managed this part properly, we created many chances.
“At the end of the game, I think we had 22 shots – two against the post, three big saves – so this part of the pitch is still the most difficult to deal with.
“With many defenders, you have to be very accurate to finish and this afternoon we were not that clinical. So at the end it was still possible for the opponent to score a goal at the end and they did, so it was good for their fans.
“We showed the intensity, we had a lot of fight, but it wasn’t enough today.
“Obviously, we are still a young team with many elements to develop and to improve, and probably when we have a long sequence [of games] we can switch off a little bit.”
