London buses springs to mind! You wait thirteen months for a Kitson competitive goal in a Stoke shirt and then you get another 3 days later.
He certainly celebrated this one and it secured another home win and out the Potters, briefly, in the top 3.
The Potters started with Kitson coming in for the injured James Beattie whilst new signings Tuncay and Rob Huth started on the bench.
Kitson was looking dangerous and a through ball nearly picked him out but visitors keeper Craig Gordon raced out to clear the danger.
Sunderland were enjoying most of the possession but despite Malbranque and Richardson prodding for an opening they struggled to create a clear chance early doors. Darren Bent raced down the wing in the 12th minute but his cross come shot was fantastically blocked and cleared by a sliding Faye.
In the 16th minute Bent had another chance as following neat build up from Jones and Richardson the ball was chipped to the expensive striker. He looked to pick his spot in the far corner but a great sliding tackle from Higginbotham cleared the danger.
The Potters came more into the game after this and Lawrence, Etherington and Delap all sent deliveries into the box that were defended well by the Black Cats.
Delap caught the defence off guard when, with them all back expecting a deep a throw, he hurled the ball to Whelan, 25 yards out, who struck the ball goalwards. It rocketed through the crowded area and struck Jones flush in the face, forcing the big striker off for treatment.
As the first half neared its conclusion the game opened up with Richardson going close for Sunderland and Fuller and Delap looking dangerous at the other end. The games first goal was threatening to arrive and duly did in the 43rd minute as with the ball bobbling around in the 6 yard box Kitson put his foot through it and sent it into the back of the net.
The second half saw the Potters press for a vital second goal and in the opening five minutes Whelan had a goalbound effort deflected away, Lawrence had a 20 yard rocket cleared off the line and a header go inches wide at the far post.
Sunderland then started to press and Whelan had to be alert to nip the ball off the toes of substitute Campbell in front of goal, and Sorenson claimed numerous crosses.
City remained dangerous on the break and Fuller raced onto a Lawrence pass and unleashed a powerful effort across goal that was tipped over by the keeper. The Potters had to be resilient in defence late on as cross after cross was whipped in and cleared away by the Potters defence to see out another great victory with a late cameo from debutant Tuncay to relieve the pressure on the defence.
Stoke(4-4-2): Sorenson, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, A.D.Faye, Shawcross, Lawrence, Etherington(Whitehead 78), Whelan, Delap, Kitson(Huth 90), Fuller(Tuncay 84)