Hull City vs. Stoke City

It was a case of lightning striking twice as a stunning goal from Matthew Etherington put the Potters in the driving seat, only for them to be pegged back by a former player after the break.

That was before Seyi Olofinjana came to relegation-threatened rescue today with the equaliser that eased the pressure on the Tigers manager whose cause was boosted by a huge amount of good fortune and the sending off of Stoke's Abdoulaye Faye.

The former Fulham man had his first chance when he fired well over after five minutes and then went closer with a low shot that went narrowly wide moments later.

Ricardo Fuller shot from similar range as Stoke enjoyed their first chance but Matt Duke, continuing to deputise for the injured Boaz Myhill, parried.

Right-back Bernard Mendy posed the greatest attacking threat for Hull and he set up American striker Jozy Altidore who shot just wide and then he threaded a pass through to Richard Garcia who was denied by Ryan Shawcross's last-ditch challenge.

The former Bolton winger was caught ball-watching when Shawcross's hoof forward was nodded on by James Beattie when he beat Kamil Zayatte and Etherington latched on to the ball before darting goalwards and thumping a rising shot inside Matt Duke's near post.

It had been coming because Hull's back four creaked every time Stoke went forward as Etherington gave Mendy the runaround before his 29th minute strike.

The goal came against the run of play but Hull responded well and Altidore headed narrowly wide after Garcia had twice been given an opportunity to cross.

Olofinjana looked to have an even better chance before the interval but opted to pass instead of shooting and Stoke cleared.

James Beattie curled a free-kick over as Stoke made the better start to the second period.

Hull were then fortunate not to go 2-0 down as Anthony Gardner almost turned the ball into his own net after 54 minutes.

This time Etherington outsmarted Mendy to cross low across the six-yard box and Anthony Gardner diverted the ball goalwards only to see to safety off Duke.

The pair could afford a grin but had been precious little for Brown to smile about until Olofinjana struck in the 62nd minute.

Hunt cut in from the let-flank and found the Nigerian midfielder who wrong-footed his markers before curling a delightful shot beyond the reach of the outstretched Sorensen from 20 yards out.

Hull caused further alarm in the Stoke area when Sorensen failed to claim an Altidore header but Craig Fagan was unable to scramble the ball in.

Altidore turned on the edge of the area as Hull pushed forward again but missed the target.

Hull survived a scare with eight minutes remaining when Whelan lofted in a free-kick and Ryan Shawcross hit the bar with a looping header.

Abdoulaye Faye was sent off for his second bookable offence following his second tangle with substitute Nick Barmby.

That prompted Tony Pulis to haul off substitute Tuncay just seven minutes after he entered the fray to send on defender Andy Wilkinson, prompting the Turk to head straight down the tunnel.

Hull went for the kill and Bullard's 25-yarder could only be parried by Sorensen into the path of Vennegoor of Hesselink who calmly applied a finishing touch.