Potters outclass Trotters

A goal in either half ensured a Stoke City win over Bolton to increase their chances of survival.

Beattie-inspired performance gives Stoke City win at the Britannia

A goal in either half ensured Stoke City took all three points against Bolton at the Britannia Stadium to increase their chances of survival. Stoke now lie just one point below Bolton and it was the inspirational James Beattie who opened the scoring after just 14 minutes when he raced onto a Glenn Whelan through ball and drilled past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal. Beattie, who has now scored five goals in just seven games for his new team, was instrumental in almost all of Stoke's attacks, also acting as provider in a wave of attacks from the home side. But it was not until the introduction of Ricardo Fuller in the second half that Stoke doubled their lead. The big striker replaced Mamady Sidibe in the second half and took just 17 minutes to get on the scoresheet as he thumped in a rebound from a Whelan effort on 73 minutes. It was a game of many long throws as Rory Delap made a return to the Stoke side following a suspension. At the other end Gretar Steinsson provided Bolton with long throw ammunition but both keepers dealt well with the threat. Abdoulaye Faye also returned, with manager Tony Pulis looking for his side to get away from the foot of the table.

Frustrated

Delap was left a little frustrated, however, because referee Mike Dean put a stop in the first half to his constant ploy of using a towel to dry the ball for his long-throws. Bolton almost took the lead before Stoke made the breakthrough, Thomas Sorensen showing good reflexes to turn Johan Elmander's effort around the post in the 11th minute. Stoke hit back and made the breakthrough in the 14th minute when Whelan split the Bolton defence with a glorious through ball. Beattie was the first to react as Bolton stood off and showed little hesitation to knock his effort beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Bolton were struggling to string their passes together, and manager Gary Megson was already looking anxious in the technical area.

Chances

Matt Taylor sent his effort into Sorensen's body, before Stoke came close to adding a second. Ryan Shawcross headed narrowly over the top in the 29th minute following an inswinging free-kick from Liam Lawrence. Stoke were playing with confidence after that early goal from Beattie. Whelan and Liam Lawrence were both busy and creative, and Bolton were kept on their toes. Bolton were having trouble defending set-pieces, and Abdoulaye Faye got clear of his marker in the 42nd minute but headed over the top following a free-kick from Lawrence. However, the visitors almost equalised a minute before the break after a sweet free-kick from Taylor. He struck his 25-yard effort perfectly from an acute angle, only for Sorensen to turn it around the post. Stoke had lost a bit of impetus, and manager Tony Pulis reacted by bringing on Fuller in the 58th minute for the ineffective Mamady Sidibe.

Mischief

Delap was still causing mischief with his long throws, even though the towel had been abandoned, and launched one a minute later that finished on the roof of the net. Fuller then played a neat one-two with Andy Wilkinson, but his well-struck shot was deflected to safety. Sorensen then had to look alert two minutes later to to turn away a free-kick from Mark Davies at the back post. Stoke extended their lead, with Whelan again having a hand in the goal. He rattled in a shot that Jaaskelainen could only parry, and Fuller was on hand to take advantage from close range. It was the Jamaican's seventh goal of the season and put Stoke firmly in the driving seat. Ibrahima Sonko almost added a third after stepping of the bench, his header coming back off the bar in the 79th minute before Sorensen blocked Elmander's effort in stoppage time.

Stoke City	Team Statistics	Bolton Wanderers
2	Goals	0
1	1st Half Goals	0
3	Shots on Target	5
5	Shots off Target	7
3	Blocked Shots	3
6	Corners	7
17	Fouls	14
3	Offsides	0
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
55.5	Passing Success	64.3
11	Tackles	13
81.8	Tackles Success	53.8
36.9	Possession	63.1
48.7	Territorial Advantage	51.3