Mason Burstow scored his first goal for Sunderland as Michael Beale's side moved back level on points with the Championship's play-off spots following a much-needed win over Stoke City.

Burstow converted from close-range two minutes before half-time before second half goals from Abdoullah Ba and Pierre Ekwah ensured an important win for head coach Beale after what he has described as a 'difficult' fortnight following recent results and off-field issues.

And here is everything Beale had to say on Sunderland's win over Stoke as well as his verdict on Alex Pritchard's desire to leave the club:

That’s a big win on a number of levels?

Yeah, I’m delighted with the players and I’m delighted for them as well. There’s lots of little individual things within that as well like Mason scoring his first goal.

The work ethic of the boys and the togetherness behind the scenes – it’s been a difficult two weeks with the last two or three results and today, the effort they put in the game, but the effort they put in every day, I’ve been delighted and it was a really good win today.

The build-up can’t have been helped by the Alex Pritchard news, how difficult has that been?

It’s been ongoing to be honest, it’s not been the last 24-hours. Obviously he’s a boy that’s been out of contract and he’s been offered one. I just think, mentally, it’s just got too much for him. But let’s keep the focus on the boys that played today, I think that’s really important.

It’s a wonderful football club to play for, there’s a lot of expectation and the boys went out there and delivered a good result, so let’s keep it there. The club made a statement and I’m sure in the coming days, with the window coming to an end, there’ll be more to be said on that.

It was important you got the first goal this afternoon?

Yeah, it was really important because it was actually quite an open game. Both teams went for it and both teams felt they could win the game. We had a couple of big chances with Jack and Pierre early in the game where maybe we could have done better – they had one or two as well.

But I’m delighted for Mason, today. He’s a boy I’ve only known for a month but it’s been difficult for him. It’s his first big loan, if you like, and there’s expectation. Although he played earlier in the season in a team that was winning games, for him personally as a striker he’s obviously felt the weight of that. But he stays out every day working on his finishing. He’s been desperate for an opportunity and I thought today his all round work ethic for the team was fantastic.

You got the balance right today?

Jenson, I think he’s a fantastic signing for the club and he’s playing out of position at the moment. Timi [Pembele] has come off of not playing much football over the last year to 18-months and we’ve got to get Timi up to speed, maybe with some under-23s games. But I think Jenson has gone in and, in the main part, played very, very well including today.

Abdoullah has got to continue with his consistency in terms of his energy and effort because at 20, I think there’s a real player in there. If he continues to perform like today I think that’s fantastic for everyone.

You’ll be hoping the club can get players over the line [in the transfer window]?

Yeah I think it’s fair to say if you look at the squad today, if you look at my board in the office yesterday, my focus is on there being quite a few out for various reasons; Adil was sick today, Jay Matete unfortunately has had a little bit of a problem with his knee – it’s nothing to worry about longer term but he wasn’t available today either.

I know it’s our club’s way to put young players in the squad but our squad today looked very young. Sometimes you don’t know when you’re working with a group and you’re seeing the levels that the are players putting in behind the scenes, you want it to harvest a little bit quicker but today we gave a performance the fans can be happy with.

Hearts and minds of supporters will be won over by results?

Yeah, it’s been an interesting start at the club and there’s a lot of emotion around certain situations. I’m all here for the club and I want to be here for the long-term, it’s important that my team and our team go on the pitch and put performances in that the fans can get behind and be worth of. I thought today they did, it’s just one performance. We want to build on it.

We’re in a good position in the league. I thought today the fans were fantastic. They have been in every single stadium, both here and the away games since I’ve been here. I thought the fans were fantastic in getting behind the team. I thought the team were really good at energizing the fans and that made it difficult for Stoke.

It was an open game and there were chances at both ends but we knew we’d get moments at both ends. Three vs three, four vs three and we had plenty of those. Ultimately, it’s probably what won us the game.

You could see the confidence coming back today?

We’ve had big issues at times, throughout the season, certainly since I’ve been here. Sometimes we have too much possession and we’re too slow. We need to run forward more and commit more forward, make more crosses and look to run in behind earlier. We’ve been speaking about all those things and at times today our last pass let us down in the first-half. We were a little bit over eager but I’m asking the players to play faster football. To remind themselves of what we are at our best. I thought overall today, we can be pleased with that performance for sure.

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At 2-0, it was like they started to play with a sparkle, did you enjoy that?

I really enjoyed it. I enjoy working with them every day, I’ve got to be honest they’re a fantastic group to work with. They’re young and the emotions can get really high or really low with a group, but the wind is in their back and they’re playing well – I think they’re a joy to watch.

We were a little bit tired with 20 minutes to go today, the pitch was heavy, but it shows the effort we put into the game and it’s important we don’t leave our legs on the training pitch because they’re a young group and want to stay out working on things every day. I’ve been delighted with the players since I joined the club.