Gyan’s brace brings smile back to Black Cats

THE smile on Asamoah Gyan’s face was a broad as those in the stands as Sunderland launched the healing process with victory over Stoke.

It has been a traumatic week on Wearside in the wake of last Sunday’s 5-1 derby battering at Newcastle.

But for Gyan and company, a 2-0 victory over a pugnacious Stoke side represented the first step on the road to redemption. The fact that it was achieved without the injured Darren Bent, was all the more credible as record signing Gyan was given a first real opportunity to justify his fee. Having opened the scoring within nine minutes of his first Barclays Premier League start, the Ghana international wrapped up a much better day for the Black Cats with the clincher four minutes from time.