Stoke moved into the top half of the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Fulham on Wednesday night.
Late Etherington strike seals win against Europa League finalists
Stoke City moved into the top half of the Premier League after Matthew Etherington struck late on to seal a 1-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday night.
The Potters winger, who was voted the club's player of the season by fans this week, latched onto a deflected cross from Ricardo Fuller to thump home on 83 minutes.
It was a game of few chances and it was Etherington who sprung the game into life in the second period with a series of dangerous crosses.
The Cottagers were playing their last home game of the season and fielded a strong side despite having one eye on next week's Europa League final.
Damien Duff withdrew at half-time with a calf concern but Roy Hodgson's men otherwise appeared to come through the defeat unscathed.
The win means Stoke better last season's Premier League tally of 45 points by at least two, with a trip to Manchester United on the last day still to come.
The hosts, meanwhile, remain in twelfth position but are not out of the running for a top half finish but will have to win away to Arsenal on Sunday if they are to do so.
Hodgson recalled Brede Hangeland, Zoltan Gera, Danny Murphy, Duff, Aaron Hughes and Dickson Etuhu to his side while his counterpart Pulis opted to stick with the same team that drew 0-0 with Everton on Sunday.
With the Europa League meeting with Atletico Madrid just seven days away, many had predicted that Hodgson would put out a second string for the club's 61st game of a long season.
But aside from the injured Bobby Zamora, the side which Hodgson selected was so strong that he may well field the same team against the Spanish side next week.
Chances
Mark Schwarzer came out to punch Rory Delap's first trademark long throw in the fifth minute before Etuhu needed two minutes to recover after being hacked down by a mis-timed sliding tackle from Mamady Sidibe.
Wasteful passing from Fulham and resolute defending from Hangeland ensured neither goalkeeper was tested in the first 15 minutes.
Duff then found Gera in space in the 19th minute but he scooped his shot over from 10 yards.
Hangeland was barged into the advertising boards by Fuller as he shepherded the ball out but referee Peter Walton waved play on.
As a dull game limped past the half hour, the Stoke fans vented their frustration by deciding to embark upon a conga around the Putney end stand.
Both sides failed to create chances before the game was given a little life when referee Walton had to stop play to talk to Dempsey, who argued with Ryan Shawcross after the American's path was blocked by the defender.
The first shot on target of the game came seven minutes from the break when Dempsey slipped in Gera who shot straight at Stoke stopper Begovic.
Fuller ranted at Walton after he failed to give a foul when Etuhu pulled him back just before the break.
Robert Huth then entered the book for arguing with the referee before Glenn Whelan fired harmlessly wide on the stroke of half-time.
Duff, who finished the first half clutching his leg, failed to emerge after the break and was substituted by Erik Nevland, who was making his last home appearance for the club before moving to Viking Stavanger.
Second half
After the break, Fuller beat his marker to send a glancing header wide from a Delap throw as Stoke looked for an opener.
Hodgson came out of his dugout to vent his frustration at his side, who were struggling to get into their rhythm.
Shawcross was booked for a blatant tug of Dempsey's shirt eight minutes into the second half.
Etherington beat John Pantsil for pace down the left but his teasing cross flew across the box without a vital tap-in.
Etuhu's 15-yard header flew over just after the hour but Stoke continued to control most of the play.
Fulham hit back though through Gera, who picked out Dempsey at the back post but the striker's shot inside the six-yard box was tipped wide by Begovic.
Pulis looked for inspiration from Tuncay, who came on for Sidibe with 20 minutes left.
Etuhu climbed well to beat Delap from a Murphy corner but Begovic was equal to the midfielder's header.
Pantsil's ambitious 30-yard drive cleared Begovic's bar with just over 10 minutes left as Fulham regained control of the game.
But with little over seven minutes left the Potters took the lead when Fuller's cross skimmed off Tuncay's back to fall to Etherington who smashed his finish home off the Fulham woodwork.
Hodgson replaced Pantsil with striker Stefano Okaka as he looked to find a leveller while Etherington left the field for Salif Diao for Stoke.
A late challenge on Tuncay earned Aaron Hughes a booking towards the death as Stoke continued to frustrate the hosts in their search for an equaliser.
The home fans urged their team on but they could not find their way through a solid Stoke back line.
The Cottagers' attentions now turn to the Gunners before next week's final in Hamburg, where they will have to improve dramatically if they are to pick up their first major trophy in their 131-year history.
| Fulham |
Team Statistics |
Stoke City |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 8 |
Corners |
3 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
6 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.4 |
Passing Success |
69.5 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 81.2 |
Tackles Success |
80 |
| 63.1 |
Possession |
36.9 |
| 46.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
53.2 |
|
