Stoke City chairman Peter Coates was delighted with their win over Sunderland.
Coates admits it was a relief to collect the three points.
"We needed to break that cycle of not winning in the league," Coates told The Sentinel, "and so it was an important win in that context.
"We have not been playing badly, but that sort of thing can become a psychological barrier.
"Everton away is certainly a tough game, as they all are, and they are having a good season.
"I always enjoy going there because of the kind of club it is, but also because we always seem to give a good account of ourselves there."
