The most spirited performance for some time, featuring Jimmy Bullard in insprational form in his home debut, sees City recover from a first half deficit to claim a last minute winner against the enemies of football, Stoke City, and climb out of the bottom 3.

Report by James Lockwood.

With the constant media speculation in the week regarding Phil Brown's employment position, surely getting City back to playing football is the one distraction he'd really want. However in such a situation, would Stoke really be the choice of side to face?

Since City and Stoke entered the Premier League last season, Stoke have been labelled as a very direct side. In fairness on today's showing, that tag is perfectly justified. With constant pushing, climbing and niggles amongst the back line, they really do unsettle opposing players. With long balls, sometimes hoofs sometimes direct, up to their strong and quick front men, Stoke do cause a lot of problems. Aside from the obvious threat of the Delap throw, they also have one potent weapon in the wing play from Matt Etherington.

Facing this Stoke side, Phil Brown elected once again to make a number of changes from the last match, including Jimmy Bullard's home debut since signing for us back in January.

Duke
Mendy Zayette Gardner Dawson
Garcia Olofinjana Bullard Hunt
Fagan Altidore

With the game taking place on remembrance Sunday, the 2 minutes silence was almost impeccably observed, with the exception of the crackle and thump of the stadium's PA system, and one Stoke fan shouting out just the wrong side of the ending whistle.

From the early exchanges, the style of play became obvious. Stoke worked hard to get the ball up to their front men as quick as possible, whereas City's main tactic seemed to be "Give Jimmy the ball". Throughout the game, Bullard found space very easily, allowing him to pass the ball on

The first action of the day saw Bullard play in Altidore on the edge of the area, who got the ball back to Garcia. The Australian seemed to stumble on the ball, without getting it under control, before it squirmed back to Altidore, where upon he was felled by a heavy Stoke challenge. Not for the first time in the game, referee Mike Dean indicated no penalty.

Bullard had the next two chances, both from range. First a long clearance from Duke found Altidore on the edge of the area, who headed back to Jimmy, only to shoot over. Next Altidore again holds off a Stoke challenge, before Garcia crosses to the left wing to Hunt. His ball inside finds Bullard to shoot wide.

Stoke's first chance came with Beattie and Fuller combining, allowing Fuller space on the edge of the area, with his resulting shot palmed away by Duke.

Shawcross was the first player to see his name taken by the referee. With Fagan in possession, about half way in their area, the Stoke defender took our Brummie forward out with a poor challenge. The resulting free-kick was played across to Mendy who took a shot from about 40 yards our, only to see it sail over the bar.

Stoke finally manage to take hold of the game. Firstly Fuller and Etherington work well down their left, before Etherington's low cross finds Fuller on the edge of the area, but his soft shot is easily claimed by Duke.

Next up, Stoke find Etherington on the half way line, with Mendy out of position too far up field. As Etherington advanced, Mendy managed to get back, but tackles the former Hammer from behind and sees his name taken. The free kick is hit to the right wing, before being crossed to Fuller, who in turn lays the ball off to Whitehead, only for him to shoot wide.

The ex-Stoke midfielder, Olofinjana releases Hunt down the left wing, before his cross is headed goal wards by Garcia.

Unfortunately City then find themselves behind. A long cross field ball from right back finds Etherington in acres of space, with Mendy having once again gone walk about. Etherington advances to the left hand angle of out box unchallenged, before releasing a powerful drive beyond Duke and into the back of the net.

Stoke gain a bit of confidence from the goal and continue to press at City. With Olofinjana having given away a free kick near the edge of the area, Etherington's pass into the box evades everyone to be calmly claimed by Duke.

Altidore's movement and hold up play manages to create several chances for City through the half, but the American can be frustrating at times by trying to play a bit too much, instead of getting a shot away. An example of this happened with 5 minutes of the first half to go, when a Bullard pass finds Jozy who turns brilliantly, but with the goal gaping, he elects to pass the ball across the area, allowing Stoke to clear.

As the half draws to a close, a high ball is claimed by Sorensen despite Hunt jumping into challenge. Sorensen immediately crumples under the soft challenge, where upon Shawcross immediately charges in, pushing Hunt away. With Shawcross already on a booking, the referee elects to give both players a lengthy talking to.

As the second half starts, Whelan almost immediately wins a free kick off Garcia, allowing Beattie with a free kick which he puts over the bar.

Within a few minutes, Garcia is replaced by Barmby.

Stoke are presented with a great chance to double their lead. A mix up at the back sees Etherington play the ball across the area, where Gardner knocks the ball goal wards before Duke fubles the ball narrowly wide of the post.

Huth is the next to have his name taken by the referee. Altidore dispossess the former Chelsea defender on the half way line, only for Huth to pull him down. The resulting free kick is wasted as City play a quick free kick down the left hand channel which comes to nothing.

Stoke replace Beattie with Kitson, but soon find themselves back on level terms. After Shawcross pulls down Fagan near the half way line, the free kick is played left to Hunt. His ball along the edge of the area finds Olofinjana, who turns to make some space for himself, before hitting a fantastic strike beyond Sorensen's reach and into the top corner.

Stoke immediately try to respond, with Whelan bursting forward past Gardner to go clear. Unfortunately for him, he'd handled the ball to get it past the City captain, with the referee taking his name.

Despite having not pressure on himself and time to play the ball, Huth elects to win a throw in on the half way line, before throwing it to Whitehead. As he enters the penalty area, he goes down under a Gardner challenge, but like much earlier in the match, what seems a likely penalty is waves away.

The chief protagonist amongst the pushing and climbing along the Stoke back line is Abdoulaye Faye. Finally he has his name taken by the ref, when Barmby wins a throw in and tries to take it quick, only for Faye to push him away in an attempt to delay the throw being taken.

City have a great chance to take the lead when a Mendy ball into the area sees both Shawcross and Sorensen slip. Unfortunately Fagan gets the ball caught under his feet, allowing the Stoke defenders to get across and clear.

A heavy challenge on Etherington by Olofinjana sees the winger down for a long time, before receiving treatment. Once the resulting free kick is taken, Dawson is able to clear.

City continue to press forward, with Dawson winning a high ball, before playing in Altidore. Once again Jozy manages to turn his defender and once again puts his shot wide

With 10 minutes remaining Stoke replace Fuller with Tuncay.

Stoke get another great chance after Kitson wins a free kick off Zayette. The free kick is chipped in by Whelan to Shawcross, whose lurks in at the back post, only to see his header deflect off the City cross bar.

City then replace Altidore with Vennegor of Hesselink.

As Barmby advances up the right wing, a very heavy challenge comes in from Faye. Having been earlier booked for his push on Barmby, the ref reaches for his yellow card, which is immediately followed by the red.

With no sign of injury, Stoke then replace Tuncay, who'd only been on the pitch for 6 minutes with Wilkinson. The change was obviously tactical, but having only been on the pitch for such a short period, Tuncay appeared to react badly to the news.

With the extra man, City press forward to find the winner. Hunt managed to get up the left before passing to Bullard on the edge of the area, who in turn shoots straight at Sorensen

As the match enters time added on, City get the winner. Dawson gets up the left before crossing to Bullard. His shot from outside the area is fubled by Sorensen allowing Hesselink to steal in and score.

In an attempt to hold onto the lead, Brown replaces the hard working Fagan with Boateng for the final few minutes.

City's winning result reflected a much improved performance on recent outings. If the win has relived the pressure on Phil Brown's position, the performance definitely will have helped.

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Duke; Mendy, Zayatte, Gardner, Dawson; Garcia, Olofinjana, Bullard, Hunt; Altidore, Fagan.  Subs: Barmby (for Garcia, 52), Vennegoor of Hesselink (for Altidore, 83), Boateng (for Fagan, 89), Kilbane, McShane, Ghilas, Warner.

Goals: Olofinjana 62; Vennegoor of Hesselink 90

Booked: Mendy

Sent Off: None

STOKE CITY: Sorensen, Huth, Faye, Collins, Shawcross, Whelan, Delap, Etherington, Whitehead, Fuller, Beattie.  Subs: Kitson (for Beattie, 61), Tuncay (for Fuller, 81), Wilkinson (for Tuncay, 88), Lawrence, Higginbotham, Cort, Simonsen. 

Goals: Etherington 29

Booked: Faye, Huth, Shawcross, Whelan

Sent Off: Faye

REFEREE:    M Dean

ATTENDANCE: 24,516