Stoke gutted by late goal

The Potters threw away another two points for the second successive week in a blood and guts encounter with the Tigers at the Britannia Stadium.

Although Liam Lawrence’s neat chip (albeit deflected) beat the Hull keeper deep into first half injury time for the Stoke goal, it was another game that will be remembered for missed chances which may well have spelt the end of Stoke’s play-off hopes for this season. Ricardo Fuller headed against the bar just after the interval and Lee Hendrie missed an absolute sitter after a great run from Fuller and Hendrie as he shot wide from 10 yards with just the keeper to beat. Although it was being compared to Martin Paterson’s miss last week at Cardiff, it really cannot be forgiven for a player of Hendrie’s supposed quality and experience.

Hull also have a right to regard it as two points dropped, having had the ball in the back of the net when a terrible lack of communication between Andy Griffin and Steve Simonsen combined with a poor back pass from the defender allowed Forster to sneak in between and put the ball in the net. But the referee, Andy D’Urso, ruled that Forster had handled the ball and disallowed the goal. Hull’s late, late equaliser with seconds to go from veteran player, Nick Barmby typified the tenacity and attitude of the visitors that always threatened to spoil the Potters’ party.

Stoke City: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Fortune, Higginbotham, Griffin, Lawrence, Eustace (Russell 65), Matteo, Hendrie (Martin 88), Sidibe (Pericard 79), Fuller
Subs not used: Hoult, Zakuani
Booked: Matteo
Goals: Lawrence 45

Hull City: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson, Parlour (Parkin 70), Ashbee, Peltier (Marney 23), McPhee (Barmby 66), Windass, Forster.
Subs not used: Duke, Coles
Booked: Barmby.
Goals: Barmby 90