Match ends, Stoke City 1, Hull City 0.
StokeStoke City1HullHull City0
Stoke City remain on course to achieve their best points total in the Premier League after a hard-working victory over Hull at the Britannia Stadium.
Peter Odemwingie's well-taken goal, his third in as many games, was enough to secure the win for Mark Hughes's men.
Hull's Liam Rosenior had the best chance of the first half, but could not find the target with a free header.
Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic pulled off a superb save from David Meyler's deflected shot after the break.
Victory moved the Potters onto 40 points, and they need eight more from their final six matches to ensure their best tally since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2007-08.
They have already beaten Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal at home this season, and have lost just once in their past nine league games.
Hull, meanwhile, may be peering nervously towards the relegation zone having taken just three points from the past 15 available, though they still hold a seven-point advantage over 18th-placed Cardiff.
Steve Bruce's men had the better of the chances in the opening period, and almost opened the scoring through midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who had a low drive from outside the area pushed away by Begovic.
The Tigers, who returned to the top flight in the summer after a three-season absence, soon had a better chance to break the deadlock, but defender Rosenior headed over from close range.
Odemwingie then had two chances to score, but dragged an effort wide before having a shot well gathered by stand-in Hull goalkeeper Steve Harper.
But it was Begovic who pulled off the save of the match at the other end, clawing away Meyler's powerful deflected strike, with striker Nikica Jelavic unable to slot home the follow-up.
Former West Brom striker Odemwingie finally found the net just after the hour mark, intercepting Ahmed Elmohamady's cross-field pass before surging forward to drive home a low finish.
With the visitors unable to force an equaliser, Stephen Ireland could have made it a more comfortable margin of victory, but his shot was tipped over by Harper.
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Stoke manager Mark Hughes:
"We deserved the results, made the better chances but we didn't have the spark in the first half. That was a credit to Hull because they came and defended well. When we got the goal lead, we were quite comfortable. We have won four in five which is good at Premier League level.
"We have needed the threat in behind and Peter Odemwingie gives us that. He ran through the middle and capitalised on the errant pass. He has hit the ground running and done well for us.
"Our intention was to get into the top half and we are in a good position now. We are going to try and go for it."
Hull manager Steve Bruce:
"We have made bad mistakes and when you make mistakes like that at this level, we gifted them the victory. That changes things dramatically and it was a frustrating day.
"For Peter Odemwingie to get into that position and score is ludicrous. Stoke didn't do well enough to beat us, we have given it to them."
"10 wins will be sufficient and the quicker you get it done, the better. We need to get the accumulation of points."
Line-ups
Stoke
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Begovic
- 20Cameron
- 3Pieters
- 15N'Zonzi
- 17Shawcross
- 12Wilson
- 9OdemwingieBooked at 62mins
- 6WhelanSubstituted forPalaciosat 82'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 25CrouchSubstituted forGuidettiat 87'minutes
- 32Ireland
- 10ArnautovicSubstituted forAdamat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Muniesa
- 8Palacios
- 16Adam
- 23Guidetti
- 26Etherington
- 28Wilkinson
- 29Sørensen
Hull
Formation 3-5-2
- 22Harper
- 27El Mohamady
- 2Rosenior
- 6Davies
- 4BruceSubstituted forAlukoat 71'minutes
- 5Chester
- 7Meyler
- 8HuddlestoneSubstituted forQuinnat 82'minutes
- 18JelavicSubstituted forSagboat 79'minutes
- 21Long
- 14Livermore
Substitutes
- 3Figueroa
- 10Koren
- 12Fryatt
- 16Jakupovic
- 20Sagbo
- 24Aluko
- 29Quinn
- Referee:
- Neil Swarbrick
- Attendance:
- 27,029
Match Stats
Home TeamStokeAway TeamHull
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Hull City 0.
Post update
Steven N'Zonzi (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Stephen Quinn (Hull City).
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Hand ball by Curtis Davies (Hull City).
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Peter Odemwingie (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David Meyler (Hull City).
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. John Guidetti replaces Peter Crouch.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Charlie Adam replaces Marko Arnautovic.
Booking
Wilson Palacios (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Wilson Palacios (Stoke City).
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Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jake Livermore.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Stephen Quinn replaces Tom Huddlestone.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Wilson Palacios replaces Glenn Whelan.
Post update
Erik Pieters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David Meyler (Hull City).
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Yannick Sagbo replaces Nikica Jelavic.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Steve Harper.
Post update
Attempt saved. Stephen Ireland (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic.
