Sunderland beats Stoke 3-1 in Premier League

SUNDERLAND, England (AP) Steven Fletcher scored twice to give Sunderland a 3-1 win over Stoke on Saturday for its first Premier League victory of the season.

Fletcher made it 2-1 in the 23rd minute and then put the result beyond doubt in the 79th as Sunderland ended a run of five draws in six games and joined Stoke on eight points from seven rounds.

Connor Wickham gave the hosts the lead with a close-range header in the fourth minute, only for Charlie Adam to equalize in the 15th.

Fletcher was handed his first start since August and headed in a cross from Jordi Gomez for his first goal, before slotting home a pass from Wickham for the third after a counterattack.