Ricardo Rescues Point For Potters

Stoke City 1-1 Hull City

Ricardo Fuller salvaged a point for Stoke with a late penalty after Marlon King had given the Tigers had a first half lead in an entertaining encounter in the Britannia fog.

The Potters began the afternoon with the fourth best home record in the Premier League, whilst Hull had only been beaten by champions Manchester United on their travels this season.

Stoke started the better with Fuller and Mamady Sidibe causing the Tigers' defence problems whilst Abdoulaye Faye and the recalled Leon Cort were keeping dangermen Marlon King and Giovanni quiet.

Hull were dealing comfortably with the unique threat of Rory Delap's throw in's but should have gone behind when Fuller played in Sidibe who took too much time with the finish and allowed Michael Turner chance to make a last ditch clearance.

Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill, who has this week been linked with Inter Milan among other clubs, seemed to be struggling with his kicking and almost let Stoke in when Tom Soares closed down the Welsh international and forced him into kick the ball out for a corner with Fuller also closing in.

Hull substitute Dean Windass was doing his best to antagonise the Potters by deliberatly trying to put of Delap during his throw in's by warming up in the way of te midfielder. Windass was given his rightful reward when referee Straod showed the portly striker the yellow card towards the end of the first half.

With the game heading into half time level Hull struck just before the interval when Turner headed Giovanni's inviting free kick across goal for King to control and clinically swival the ball into the top corner leaving Sorensen no chance.

It was far from what Hull had deserved but in all fairness it had taken that extra bit of quality to break the deadlock.

The Potters came out fired up and were almost level when Fuller connected with Delap only real threatning throw of the afternoon but saw his header brilliantly saved by Myhill.

The Tigers were now on the back foot and substitute Michael Tonge so nearly provided the perfect cross on the hour, when his low drive was missed by both Fuller and Delap by inches with Myhill beaten.

It was looking like it was not going to be Stoke's day, but in the 73rd minute Fuller reacted quickest to a loose ball in the Hull penalty area and was bought down by Myhill whilst going round the keeper. It was one of them penalties you'd argue about if it went against you but in fairness was probably the right decision. Fuller picked himself up and slotted home the penalty despite Myhill getting a good hand to the ball. 1-1 and the game was very much on.

Myhill again produced a fine save to deny Tigers' old boy Leon Cort moments later, when the defender diverted Andy Griffin's low cross towards goal from six yards only to see the keeper make an excellent stop down low to his right.

Hull threw on striker Daniel Cousin as they went all out for the win and Stoke were thankful for Abdoulaye Faye who first prevented King a free run on goal before he produced a crucial block to deny Cousin after the former Rangers man had sprung the offside trap, as the game entered the final stages.

It was Giovanni again who could have won the game for the Tigers when he fired over after cutting in from the left, but as the final whistle blew both sides would have been happy with a point despite both teams but particularly Stoke having the chances to have won the game.

It was nevertheless a useful point for the Potters who could have just as easily lost this game as won it, and does at least provide a platform going into a crucial set of games starting with fellow relegation rivals Newcastle at St James' Park next weekend.

Man of the Match - Abdoulaye Faye - Immense as usual and produced a world class piece of defending to deny Cousin in the closing stages - This man needs a song!

Attendance - 27,500

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham, Delap, Amdy Faye, Diao, Soares (Tonge 62), Sidibe, Fuller.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Marney, Boateng (Cousin,78), Ashbee, Barmby (Halmosi,69), Geovanni (Garcia,90), King.