MICHAEL BRIDGES chose the perfect moment to end a four-year goal drought and power high-flying Sunderland a step nearer a Premiership return.
The striker, who has been plagued by injuries, clambered off the bench to replace Stephen Elliott in the 75th minute.
But he needed just eight minutes to get his name on the scoresheet again for the first time since scoring for Leeds United in the Premiership.
There have been some dark days for Bridges since then, but he was smiling again last night as his personal nightmare ended at long last.
The goal came when Liam Lawrence floated a corner in from the right, Chris Brown headed the ball back across goal and Bridges nudged a header past keeper Steve Simonsen.
No wonder the army of visiting fans massed behind the goal rose to salute Bridges, who began his career at Sunderland back in the old Roker Park days.
On balance the visitors just about deserved the points, although injury-hit Stoke made them fight all the way for another crucial win.
The first half was a massive non-event.
Sunderland threatened in the 13th minute when Marcus Stewart sneaked into the danger zone but his shot was well stopped by Simonsen.
Five minutes later Chris Greenacre broke free on the right. His cross was good but Gifton Noel-Williams' first touch was poor and the visitors escaped.
Sunderland were in danger again in the 25th minute when a linesman failed to spot three Stoke attackers in an offside position. But once again there was no real progress.
Ten minutes before the interval more weak Sunderland defending let in Greenacre again and this time the winger decided to go it alone.
His angled shot from 18 yards was heading for the corner of the net but Thomas Myhre turned the ball round the post.
There was a scare at the other end when Julio Arca was presented with a shooting chance. But his 20-yard effort soared way over the bar.
Things could only improve in the second period and mercifully for the Potters' second highest crowd of the campaign, they did.
In the 48th minute Greenacre caused problems again on the right but Sunderland held firm when the cross came in and retaliated well.
First the speedy Elliott broke clear only to see his shot saved by Simonsen.
Then in the 53rd minute the home keeper was in action again, diving to save another shot from Elliott after the striker had taken advantage of a slip by Wayne Thomas.
And a minute later Simonsen had to be at his best again to keep out an effort from Darren Carter.
With Brown replacing Stewart on the hour, Sunderland continued to look the more dangerous side. And they might easily have gone in front in the 67th minute.
But Carter's 25-yard shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Stoke were showing little threat and when Mick McCarthy sent on Bridges with 15 minutes to go it was a clear signal Sunderland meant business.
STOKE: *SIMONSEN 8 - Hall 6, Duberry 7, Thomas 6, Hill 6 (Palmer, 88mins) - Greenacre 7 (Neal, 68mins, 5), Brammer 5, Russell 6, Clarke 6 - Noel-Williams 5, Asaba 5.
SUNDERLAND: Myhre 6 - Wright 6, Breen 7, Caldwell 6, McCartney 6 - Lawrence 6 (Lynch, 89mins), Whitehead 6, Carter 7, Arca 7 - *ELLIOTT 8 (Bridges, 75mins, 7), Stewart 6 (Brown, 60mins, 6). Ref: U Rennie 6.