The Potters pulled out of the relegation zone this afternoon after an extremely hard-working and courageous performance earned a 1-0 win over underachieving Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke played almost two-thirds of the game with just ten men, after midfielder Rory Delap was sent off for stupidly kicking the ball at Citys Shaun Wright-Phillips as he lay on the ground, making it even more remarkable that Stoke could go on to take the lead, through an excellent James Beattie header, and hold itthrough a second half of near constant defending against a Sky Blues side that looked poor on the day. Stoke manager Tony Pulis made two changes to the side that whimpered to a 3-1 defeat at Spurs on Tuesday night, bringing in Danny Pugh for the injured Danny Higginbothamin the left-back position, and giving Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller his first start for over a month in place of Richard Cre swell. Young full-back Andy Wilkinson, fresh from siginga new contract at the Britannia yesterday, Josh Sweat Jersey retained his berth in the side, despite being a major injury doubt, while former Citizens player Glenn Whelan lined up in midfield for Stoke.Former Manchester City player and Irish international Glenn Whelan lined up in the Stoke midfield The visitors named an unchanged side from their midweek win over Newcastle, with new signings with a total transfer value of 93 million lining up, including Brazilian forward Robinho, who is currently being investigated following being arrested for rape, and newest signing, Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong. Stoke made a quick start, Jalen Mills Jersey Fuller freed by Whelan just thirty seconds in. Fuller, who spent several minutes changing his shorts during the first half, was bundled to the ground, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away appeals for a penalty, probably rightly, as the forward appeared all too keen to hit the deck. The visitors soon began to enjoy the lions share of the po se sion though, but a series of misplaced pa ses and a poorly struck volley from midfielder Steven Ireland suggested that the travelling players were not on top of their game in the hostile atmosphere of the Premier Leagues loudest stadium. For the most part of the first half hour, Manchester City enjoyed po se sion of the ball, but failed really to test Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen, with Robinho squandering their best opportunity, hitting the ball straight at the Dane with no real power after a flowing counter-attacking move. It was from set-pieces that Stoke were getting most joy, with a series of five corners inside as many minutes causing problems. Delaps long-throws were also back to their very best, with centre-back Ryan Shawcro s twice coming close to opening the scoring from them,once heading over,after forcing City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart into admittedly simple action, guiding the ball towards goal with a flamboyant flick. The game looked to be heading towards half time as a dull 0-0, when the major flashpoint occurred in the 38th minute. Diminutive Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips lunging in on Stokes Matthew Etherington, an offence arguably meriting a straight red card itself. Referee Atkinson inexplicably allowed play to continue however, before awarding the visitors a free-kick for Delapstrip on Wright-Phillips. With the England man on the ground, the former Irish international allowed his frustration to get the better of him, smashing the ball into the torso of the prostrate Wright-Phillips, a moment of unprofe sional madne s that earned him a dismi sal. Interestingly, Wright-Philips clearly kicked out at Delap during the incident, but Atkinson also failed to see this, the City man getting away free, and rather pleased with himself.Delap gets his marching orders, while Abdoulaye Faye tries to take a bite out of Martin Atkinsons head With the wind in the away sides sails, they pre sed forwards sensing a goal, but in keeping with the rest of the match, despite territorial advantage, they created little by the way of efforts on goal. While the majority of Stoke fans would have been happy to get in at half-time at 0-0 and regroup, the players they were there to support launched an attack completely against the run of play and took the lead from it.Whelan clipped a ball to Etherington on the left wing, who hit a looping ball into the Manchester City box towards Beattie. The 3.5 million striker proved his worth, jumping well to power Nick Foles Jersey a difficult header past Hart and into the goal, his second strike in three Stoke games, sending the Britannia Stadium into raptures.Beattie brilliantly adjusts to head home then Zach Ertz Jersey celebrates with Danny Pugh The half time whistle was quickly blown and Stoke went into the interval with an unlikely lead. Unlike with some goals late in the first half, there would have been no need for Pulis to re-write his half-time speech, as the second half mi sion changed only from lets defend this point to lets defend these points.The Stoke bo sdid opt for a half-time change, bringing on Cre swell for Fuller, the official reason being the Jamaican had picked up a knock, though I expect in truth it was more to do with the fact he had been petulant and completely ineffective all half. The second period started as it would continue, with City attacking Stoke but failing to create anything, ultimately failing to find a way past the superb Faye and Shawcro s and being reduced to efforts from range, the majority of the which failed to trouble Sorensens goal.Robinho is frustrated by the excellent Andy Wilkinson Though the visitors enjoyed at least three quarters of the po se sion in the second half, Stoke did manage some forays forward, with Beattie testing Hart from range and Etherington embarking on several menacing runs. Defence was always the prerogative for the Potters though, illustrated by the introduction of defenders Andy Griffin and Ibrahima Sonko into the fray. With Stokes muscular backline resolutely standing up to whatever was thrown at it, City manager Mark Hughes made a change, bringing on midfield playmaker Elano in place of the more defensively minded Pablo Zabaleta. This produced a clear improvement in the vistors play, with the Brazilian adding clearer purpose and control to the numerous attacks, but thanks to excellent defending and woeful shooting, City could find no way through. With time wearing on, the Mancunians further stepped up their pursuit of the elusive equaliser, with Craig Bellamy actually hitting a shot that didnt enter the upper tier of the Seat Stand and Ireland coming close to making contact with a dangerous ball. Ultimately, Stoke stood firm to earn all three points, thanks Seth Joyner Jersey to a defensive performance that was courageous without being desperate, with Manchester City ruing poor play in the final third, knowing that in truth, they should have been able to break Stoke down. The three points lift Stoke up three places in the table to sixteenth, while City slip to tenth. This is a victory that could prove crucial in our bid for Premier League survival, and to stand so firm in the face of near relentle s pre sure following recent late collapses will provide a huge morale boost. On the whole, an excellent performance and victory for Stoke, hopefully we can produce more of the same in next weeks away game at Sunderland and edge closer to safety.Stoke Side: (4:4:2) SorensenWilkinson Shawcro s Abdoulaye Faye Pugh Delap Amdy Faye Whelan EtheringtonBeattie FullerSubstitutions: Cre swell for Fuller (46), Griffin for Amdy Faye (78), Sonko for Pugh (86)Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Olofinjana, Lawrence, KitsonAttendance: 27,236
Click here Click here Click here