Sunderland defender John O'Shea was delighted with the character shown for victory over Stoke City.

After the game O'Shea admitted it hadn't been the easiest of games.

He told safc.com: "It ranks up there with some of the most difficult games I've played in."

The defender continued: "It was very icy, a little bit slippy and there was a bitter wind as well, but we coped with the conditions very well.

"We knew it was going to be tough against Stoke - it always is, no matter what the weather is - but today that just added to it!

"It was a fantastic three points for us in the end."