Stoke City welcomed Hull City to the Britannia Stadium this afternoon on the back of a run of only one defeat in their last eight Premier League games.
The Potters' form has helped them move away from relegation trouble and into the top-half of the table, but they struggled against the Tigers in the first half.
It was the visitors who had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes, as Tom Huddlestone forced Asmir Begovic into a smart low save and Liam Rosenior headed over unmarked from eight yards.
However, Hull gifted Stoke a lead, which they would go on to hold comfortably, when Ahmed Elmohamady's poor pass was intercepted by Peter Odemwingie, who finished emphatically on 62 minutes.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Staffordshire, courtesy of SM's live text coverage.
Afternoon, all. Sports Mole have five 3.00pm Premier League kickoffs to bring you this afternoon, including in-form Stoke City vs. FA Cup semi-finalists Hull City at the Britannia Stadium.
The Potters have lost only one of their last eight matches and this form has helped them rocket up the into the top half of the table and put the slight fear of relegation well and truly behind them.
Hull have managed to stay clear of the bottom three for most of an excellent first season back in the Premier League, but Steve Bruce will still feel that they are not quite guaranteed survival just yet.
Team news will be with you shortly...
STOKE: Begovic; Pieters, Wilson, Shawcross, Cameron; Arnautivic, Nzonzi, Whelan; Ireland, Odemwingie, Crouch
SUBS: Sorensen, Muniesa, Palacios, Adam, Guidetti, Wilkinson, Etherington
HULL: Harper; Rosenior, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Elmohamady; Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore; Jelavic, Long
SUBS: Jakupovic, Figueroa, Koren, Fryatt, Sagbo, Aluko, Quinn
Two fairly settled sides display few changes today as expected. The Potters make just the one alteration, with Stephen Ireland restored to give them some extra creativity from midfield.
The 27-year-old was ineligible for the 4-1 win over Aston Villa as part of the agreement which took him from the claret and blue outfit to Stoke in January, but returns today in place of Wilson Palacios.
Both Marc Muniesa and Andy Wilkinson were on standby to fill in for Erik Pieters, but the left-back has shaken off a knock to make his 30th Premier League start of the season.
Hull's most notable change is enforced, with goalkeeper Allan McGregor unavailable after suffering kidney damage in the 2-1 defeat to West Ham. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.
Steve Harper comes in between the posts, with Eldin Jakupovic promoted to the bench. Harper has already made eight appearances this term due to previous McGregor injuries and suspensions.
Elsewhere, there is a recall at the back for Liam Rosenior, who is preferred to pre-match injury doubt Maynor Figueroa in the back five. The Honduran is dropped to the visiting bench.
Tigers striker Shane Long scored against his former club West Bromwich Albion in Hull's 2-0 win last weekend, and he continues his strike partnership with fellow January arrival Nikica Jelavic.
Albion's decision to sell the Republic of Ireland forward in the middle of a relegation battle has to be considered one of the daftest piece of transfer dealings ever. While Pepe Mel's men have sunk to within three points of the drop zone, Long's three goals have helped Hull move clear of trouble.
The acquisitions of midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore have also proven to be shrewd bits of business by the Lancashire outfit, and the former is impressed with what Stoke are doing.
He told the Hull website: "Stoke are on a good run at the moment. They're probably the only side that have managed to pull themselves away from the drop zone. I would say they're definitely safe now as a result of their recent form.
"I watched the game against Aston Villa last weekend and they fully deserved their win. Full credit goes to Mark Hughes for the way he's transformed the philosophy at the club, he's done a good job there this season.
"We know it will be difficult going to the Britannia Stadium but we're determined to go there and come away with a positive result."
Huddlestone is one of only a few who have applauded Hughes for the way that he has introduced a new, more possession-based playing style at the club since taking over from Tony Pulis.
The Potters still have the components in the team to go direct if need be, but their results this season, including wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, can largely be put down to a more expansive approach.
Hughes is hoping that these tactics and a strong run in will help Stoke record some Premier League bests this season, including a highest-ever points total of 47 and a first top-half finish.
HEAD TO HEAD: Hull have not won at Stoke since a 3-0 triumph in the Championship in 2006. Four of the last eight meetings between the sides have finished 1-1, and they played out another draw, a 0-0 stalemate, in December of this season at the KC Stadium.
Just under 10 minutes until kickoff in Staffordshire...
RESULT Just to bring you up to date with the Premier League's early kickoff at Old Trafford, where Manchester United came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1, with Wayne Rooney scoring twice and Juan Mata opening his Red Devils account. Javier Hernandez also scored on an afternoon where the flying anti-Moyes banner was greeted with boos at the Theatre of Dreams.
REFEREE WATCH: The man in the middle today is Neil Swarbrick. Stoke will be hoping that he keeps his red card in his pocket after being blighted by suspensions in recent weeks. Charlie Adam is back on the bench today, but Jonathan Walters serves the last of his three-match ban.
PREDICTION: I'm going to go with the history books today and suggest this will be a 1-1 draw. Stoke have been playing well of late, but I can see Hull nicking something this afternoon.
PREDICTION: I'm going to go with the history books today and suggest this will be a 1-1 draw. Stoke have been playing well of late, but I can see Hull nicking something this afternoon.
We are underway at the Britannia Stadium....
Crouch knocks down smartly for Arnautovic, who shows nice control to bring the ball under. He tries to play a return pass to the striker, but Bruce is aware of the danger and makes the interception.
Stoke continue their bright start as Arnautovic threatens to get to the byline following a neat one-two between him and Steven N'Zonzi. Davies gets across smartly to block behind for a corner, from which Ryan Shawcross wriggles free of his marker but miscues a header way off target.
More good stuff from the Potters as Cameron finds Ireland on the overlap, and his first touch is brilliant, giving him space to run into. He looks for Crouch with the cutback, but Chester stretches out a leg to intervene and the second ball bounces just wide of N'Zonzi on the edge of the box.
SHOT! Despite Stoke's lively opening to the contest, it is Hull who are the first to test the opposition goalkeeper. On the break, great hold up play from Long eventually results in his layoff being passed to Huddlestone, who unleashes a low 25-yard shot which Asmir Begovic tips around his post.
CHANCE! Fantastic opportunity for Hull, as Jelavic and Long combine on the right edge of the box. The Irishman stands a cross up into the area for Rosenior, who had made a cracking burst from deep, to head over the crossbar unmarked from eight yards. Nobody followed the full-back's run.
Ireland picks up the ball in the middle of the park and tries a dink over the top for Arnautovic, who had made an intelligent run in off the left flank. The offside flag is raised, though.
N'Zonzi briefly leaves the field to change is boots. Careful Steven, we know what happened when Gareth Bale did that in the El Clasico on Sunday! Stoke escape conceding and are now back to XI men.
After Hull stifled Stoke's lively start and had a couple of good chances in the opening 15 minutes, this game has fallen into a pattern of both teams having the ball in central areas but not progressing.
It suddenly has become very sloppy. Passes are going awry regularly, the latest from Livermore straight out for a goal kick. Ahmed Elmohamady follows N'Zonzi in changing his footwear.
Odemwingie has seen very little of it so far and he moves inside to collect the ball, shift it forward and slice an ambitious 30-yard shot harmlessly wide. He had plenty of space, but couldn't capitalise.
Given their Manchester United connections, I am sure both managers will have been pleased with the manner of the Premier League champions' comeback earlier this afternoon. What won't please them, though, is how their teams have used the ball in the last 15 minutes. It has been very poor stuff.
Marc Wilson, who has been a regular centre-back partner for Shawcross in the absence of long-term injury victim Robert Huth, climbs above Jelavic to head clear a chipped ball towards the Croatian. The second ball comes to Livermore, who tries to charge into the box but it muscled off it by N'Zonzi.
What perhaps is surprising is that, with their passing game certainly alluding them for much of the half, that Stoke have not used the long ball to Crouch option more often in such a scrappy match.
Arnautovic is improving every week, particularly in terms of his work rate, something Hughes has tried to instil in the somewhat luxurious Austrian. He tracks back, all the way across the pitch, to pinch the ball off Livermore and then carries it forward until Chester intercepts his pass.
Odemwingie rolls the ball across the edge of the box for Arnautovic, whose first touch leaves the ball behind him and the subsequent shot is incredibly tame and easy pickings for Harper.
Huddlestone releases Elmohamady down the right flank and then moves for a return pass. Pieters drags the wing-back down though, and gives Hull a chance to load the box before the break.
The board indicates ONE minute of stoppage time as the Tigers prepare to take the free kick.
HALF TIME: STOKE 0-0 HULL
That was not pretty. After Stoke moved the ball around quite nicely early on, Hull halted their momentum by creating a couple of decent chances and it has since been a very low-quality affair.
Those aforementioned opportunities fell to Tom Huddlestone, who forced Begovic to tip around his post with a powerful 25-yard drive, and Liam Rosenior, who headed over unmarked from eight yards.
LATEST: No goals here, and the same applies to the match at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace are currently holding table-topping Chelsea. West Brom are 2-1 up at home to Cardiff, while Swansea have also scored twice, but without reply against Norwich at the Liberty Stadium. Finally, Jay Rodriguez scored with one of the last kicks of the half to put Southampton ahead against Newcastle.
STATS: Stoke have had 58% possession compared to Hull's 42, but failed to convert that into a single shot on target. Huddlestone and Rosenior's chances were the only shots that the Tigers managed to get away in the opening 45 minutes. Things have to improve, surely?
The game is back underway in Staffordshire, with both sides unchanged...
Arnautovic cuts inside from the left and dinks a cross into the box towards Crouch, who tries to turn the ball towards goal but Davies is tight to him and blocks the effort behind for a corner.
SHOT! The resultant set piece is long, but Stoke pick it up on the right flank. Hull feel that Meyler is fouled, but referee Neil Swarbrick allows play to continue as Odemwingie drifts inside and shoots low with his left foot towards the bottom corner, where Harper gets down well to gather.
Elmohamady makes a fast break down the right wing as he loves to do, and he shrugs off the challenge of Whelan to get to the byline, where his cross is blocked and bounces away from Jelavic.
Stoke finally use the diagonal ball up to Crouch option, and the tall striker controls it on his chest before letting it drop for an audacious volley which flies over. He does have that in his locker.
SAVE! Great work by Begovic to keep Stoke level! Meyler picks up the ball 35 yards out, feigns to shoot and then drives into the box before letting fly an effort which takes a deflection and forces the home goalkeeper to react quickly with an outstretched left hand. The ball falls to Jelavic, who knocks the rebound wide with a fair chunk of a vacant goal to aim at! Great save by Begovic, but Jelavic perhaps should have done more with that chance.
CHANCE! Again Elmohamady takes the chance to get forward and his delivery is good as per usual. Long is behind Wilson, but just gets above him, only to nod a tame header straight at Begovic.
An hour gone now in Staffordshire and Hull are starting to find some joy, with Elmohamady a great source of crosses from the right flank. Long and Jelavic may just get on the end of one soon.
STOKE 1-0 HULL (PETER ODEMWINGIE)
Just as they were looking good, Hull gift Stoke the lead courtesy of a mistake from Elmohamady. His cross-field pass towards Rosenior is way short, 15 yards or so, and Odemwingie pounces on it. He brings the ball down before running at Davies, shifting it onto his left foot and driving a shot into the bottom corner with his left foot, leaving Harper with no chance. Stoke have been poor, but will take that!
BOOKING: Odemwingie, who now has two in two, is cautioned for his over-enthusiastic celebration, becoming the first player to be shown a yellow card this afternoon. What a daft rule that is.
SHOTS! Stoke now have their tails up as Arnautovic twice tries his luck from range. He drags the first shot wide, before blazing a 30-yard free kick high into the stands behind Harper's goal.
Steve Bruce was preparing some changes before conceding, but Elmohamady's mistake has forced him into a rethink. He has both Sone Aluko and Yannick Sagbo as attacking options on the bench.
Arnauotivc's corner is deep and Shawcross does well to divert it back towards the penalty spot. Crouch flicks it on further for Odemwingie to try to steer towards goal, but his mini overhead goes wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Bruce does turn to his substitutes now, and brings on Aluko, who had such a bright start to the season before getting injured. Alex Bruce makes way in an offensive change.
Arnautovic injects some pace into Stoke's patient approach with a burst off the left flank. He plays into Crouch's feet before going beyond him to collect a really smart reverse return from the former England man. Arnautovic continues his run and threatens to shoot before Chester slides in to tackle.
SAVE! Stoke are starting to turn it on a bit here. After Crouch wins the knockdown, Odemwingie's back heel goes through the legs of Davies to Arnautovic, who shifts it to his right for Ireland to shoot. There is plenty behind the effort, and Harper palms it over the crossbar for a corner.
CHANCE! Cameron shows Rosenior inside and the full-back takes up the invitation to get a cross away on his right foot. There is pace on it, but Jelavic's complete miscue of a volley is still disappointing.
SUBSTITUTION: A second change for the Tigers, with Jelavic coming off. It has not been a great afternoon for the hit-or-miss Croatian striker. Yannick Sagbo is on to partner Long in attack.
Around 10 minutes to go here. Can Hull's substitutes find them an equaliser?
SUBSTITUTIONS: Hughes turns to his bench for the first time, swapping Glenn Whelan for Wilson Palacios to provide Stoke with fresh legs in midfield. Bruce also plays his last card, bringing on Steven Quinn in place of Huddlestone, who seemed to have picked up a minor knock.
Stoke are doing everything to slow the pace down now, with Hughes seemingly content to try and see out this one-goal lead. The three points today would take them onto that magic 40-point mark.
BOOKING: Aluko shows a great turn of pace to get away from Palacios as Hull break down the right wing. The Honduran is forced into a foul and the Tigers have a free-kick by the right touchline.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Two more changes as Hughes attempts to wind down the clock. Charlie Adam and John Guidetti are on in place of Arnautovic and Crouch, who have been Stoke's best players.
Long is dispossessed and Stoke break quickly through Odemwingie. He twists Davies one way, and then the other, only then to hit a wild square pass behind the unmarked Guidetti 12 yards out.
We are now entering FIVE minutes of second-half stoppage time. Hughes doesn't know exactly where the officials have got that from, but it may just be the boost Hull need for one last rally.
They are struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment, though, with Stoke doing a good job of keeping it. Hull's attempts are not being helped by Livermore being off the field receiving treatment.
Handball by Davies in the Stoke half gives the Potters a free kick.
Odemwingie overcomplicates things when a square pass to Ireland or Guidetti could have resulted in a second. He recovers to maintain possession and smartly take the ball to the corner.
FULL TIME: STOKE 1-0 HULL
A rather scrappy game is decided by a mistake from Hull's Elmohamady. His cross-field pass was intercepted by Odemwingie, who capitalised with a very smart finish to earn Stoke the points.
Stoke have now reached the 40-point milestone with six games remaining and have won four of their last five. Hull have to keep looking over their shoulders, but are seven clear of the drop zone.
That's it from me. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon, and be sure to stay with us for live text coverage of the big game at the Emirates between Arsenal and Man City. Until next time...
