Sunderland brushed aside some of the negativity in the build-up to the visit of Stoke City with a 3-1 Championship win at the Stadium of Light.

Amid the turbulence, Beale’s players gave the home support in a 41,000-plus crowd plenty to cheer once Mason Burstow had put them ahead inside the six-yard box just before half-time.

Abdoullah Ba crashed in a second shortly after the break, following good work on the left from Jack Clarke, and scorer turned provider when he cut the ball back for Pierre Ekwah to thump home.

Jenson Seelt’s own-goal gave Stoke some late hope, but they were unable to further dent Sunderland’s rearguard as the points stayed on Wearside.

It marks Steven Schumacher’s third defeat since taking over the Potters following Alex Neil’s exit.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman had talked of Sunderland’s search for further firepower in the week, so it was timely of Chelsea loanee Burstow to get off the mark for the club with his effort.

His goal came after Clarke had somehow missed the target when well placed, and Ekwah had also been denied.

After half-time, they found the ruthlessness in front of goal that Beale has been searching for, converting the creativity of Clarke and Ba into goals, and only Wouter Burger’s goalline clearance denied them a fourth.

Stoke under Schumacher have tailed off after a promising start, but they too had plenty of chances in this encounter.

Their purple patch in the first half included Luke Cundle being denied on the line, while Bae Jun-ho had several efforts foiled by the Wearsiders’ defensive effort.

Sunderland boss Michael Beale told BBC Radio Newcastle:

“I’m delighted for the players, lots of individuals things like Mason [Burstow] scoring his first goal, and the work ethic of the boys behind the scenes.

“It’s been a difficult two weeks for them with the last two or three results, so the effort they’ve put in I’ve been delighted with. This was a really good win today.

“Alex [Pritchard] is a boy out of contract, he’s been offered one, and mentally I think it’s got too much for him, but let’s keep the focus on the boys that played, it’s really important – it’s a wonderful club to play for with lots of expectation, the boys delivered a good result.

“The club made a statement and I’m sure in the coming days with the window coming to an end there will be more to be said on that.”

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:

“Similar story, same outcome, not clinical enough in our chances. They had more quality than us in the final third, the opportunities they got they stuck away.

“To come here and I felt control the game for large parts, have majority of possession, lots more shots than them, to only hit the target four times is not good enough.

“We had big moments, got into really good areas and don’t work the goalkeeper enough,

“[Bae] Jun-ho hits one over the bar, Luke Cundle should have scored, and they go down the other end and score against the run of play. Second-half, Tyrese [Campbell] has a chance in the first minute, doesn’t hit the target, they go down the other end and score.

“That’s the difference in the Championship, it’s so hard, you get punished for your mistakes and if you miss opportunities, and that’s what’s happened again.”