Stoke City put themselves back into the Championship play-off mix with a narrow win at promotion-chasing Hull City, in a game which saw 17 minutes of stoppage time added.
Robert Bozenik scored his first goal for the Potters just before half-time, tapping in at the back post following a cross from Lamine Cisse, but later suffered a severe-looking shoulder injury which caused a lengthy delay.
Hull captain Lewie Coyle then required significant treatment to a head injury but was able to play on wearing a bandage.
The Tigers – who started the day fourth in the table – pushed hard for an equaliser after the break and struck the woodwork twice, including once in the 98th minute, but were unable to beat debutant Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.
The result ended Hull’s five-game unbeaten run and lifted Stoke to ninth on 37 points, within three of the top six.
After a quiet opening 15 minutes, Stoke went close through eventual match-winner Bozenik’s effort from a Cisse cross.
However, Hull could have opened the scoring themselves when centre-half Charlie Hughes slammed the ball against the crossbar after Regan Slater’s initial shot following a corner was cleared off the line by Simkin.
The game’s decisive moment came in the 39th minute when Cisse drilled a low ball across goal and Bozenik was left unmarked to finish from close range.
Bozenik was then in the spotlight for reasons he and Stoke boss Mark Robins would not have wanted. Not even a full minute into the second half, the Slovakia international was injured and required oxygen before leaving the pitch in tears.
Another extended delay followed later when Coyle required treatment following a heavy challenge.
Although it was stop-start, both sides still managed to sustain spells of pressure and Hull were inches away from an equaliser in the extended period of additional time when Kasey Palmer’s effort from the edge of the box crashed back off the bar.
Stoke City manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke: “I’m delighted because it’s not an easy place to come. The pitch wasn’t great. What was great was the way we tried to play, the way we moved the ball on it.
“The support was outstanding. I think away from home, the fans have been incredible, so thanks to them for that.
“Obviously, we’ve had our challenges this week, so it’s been a really good result at the end of that. It shows the work that’s gone on at the training ground with the players who haven’t played too much.
“Things have started to sink in a little bit, and you can see the games are different when you’ve played.
“That’s a third game in a short space of time, and on Saturday we travel to Norwich for the game on Sunday. It’s tough, really tough, so they deserve an awful lot of credit.”
