James McClean scored the winner, as Sunderland beat 10-man Stoke 1-0 at a snow-covered Britannia Stadium.
Stoke played the second-half with ten men, after defender Robert Huth was handed a straight red card for a tackle on David Meyler.
It is now five wins in six league games for Martin O'Neill's side.
Stephane Sessegnon was the initial danger man for the visitors, the Benin international seeing one shot deflect away from goal and another strike just on the half-hour mark drift narrowly wide.
At the other end, Jon Walters brought a save out of Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a low shot.
Stoke were reduced to ten men in the final moments of the first half after Huth was sent off.
Referee Martin Atkinson showed Huth a straight red card following a tackle on Meyler, though the German barely made contact and did not have two feet off the floor as he slid in.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis was furious at the decision, with a water bottle bearing the brunt of his frustration.
Sunderland went close shortly after the break when Sessegnon headed McClean's cross just over the bar.
It was the same pair who combined for the only goal of the game on the hour.
Sessegnon released McClean to surge into the area, and the former Derry City player managed to hold off the challenges of Andy Wilkinson and Ryan Shawcross before shooting past Thomas Sorensen.
Mignolet then saved well from a Crouch header and an angled effort from Fuller, but Stoke were unable to break down the Black Cats' defence despite plenty of possession in the closing stages.