Stoke City vs. Portsmouth

The Jamaican international exquisitely fired home in the second half to compound more misery on bottom placed Portsmouth, who squandered a chance to take an early lead from the penalty spot. The win moves the Potters back in to 9th place, just three points shy of Aston Villa who currently sit in 5th position.

The opening stages of the game proved to be scrappy with neither side able to keep possession for long.

Pompey's fortunes looked set to change for the better after eight minutes. A reckless challenge by Rory Delap - whose boot was so high it caught Aruna Dindane in the face - prompted referee Kevin Friend to award a penalty. Boateng's spot-kick, weakly struck just to Thomas Sorensen's left, allowed the Stoke keeper to fall on the ball.

Stoke switched Matthew Etherington from his customary left-wing berth to the right, no doubt in the knowledge that the returning Hermann Hreidarsson, 35, had played only an hour of reserve football this season. Portsmouth, however, played with greater fluidity in the first half, with Ashdown doing little more than field the odd long throw from Delap.

Just short of the hour mark the changes the home fans had been demanding so vociferously materialised. Liam Lawrence replaced Salif Diao and James Beattie made way for Mamady Sidibe. They had the desired effect.

The introduction of Lawrence at last saw Stoke play with a modicum of width and poise, and they sealed victory with a goal out of keeping with their previous one-dimensional efforts. A fine move, involving quickfire passes between Etherington, Dean Whitehead and Fuller ended with the latter curling a 18-yard shot beyond the diving Ashdown.