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There are not many memories of the Etihad Stadium for Mark Hughes to cherish. Managerially, Manchester City was his taste of big money and big football. He was given a Hollywood budget, and his time since his messy sacking has been spent in the realisation he would probably never again see the views from football’s Beverly Hills. This result was a further indication that he is still one the finest managers in the Premier League.
“I have no axe to grind,“ he said of his time at City between June 2008 and December 2009. “I was here as the manager and it did not last as long as it could have done but there you go. I am at a good club now.”
Hughes will always remember the final whistle as the rain spewed down over Manchester; the walk across to Manuel Pellegrini, the firm handshake and then turning to the Stoke fans chorusing their battle hymn “Delilah” and applauding. Only one manager has beaten Pellegrini at home in the Premier League; Jose Mourinho.
Very few of those who travelled up the M6 from Staffordshire would have expected anything other than a defeat. Stoke had played six Premier League matches at the Etihad Stadium and lost the lot without scoring so much as a goal.
The one that settled this match was worth the wait. With the champions pressing unconvincingly for the goal that virtually everybody in the stadium knew would settle another City home win, Stoke cleared their lines from David Silva’s corner and Mame Diouf began running. It took him three quarters of the length of the pitch. He drove past Aleksandar Kolarov and a half-hearted challenge from Fernandinho, who was supposed to be Joe Hart’s last line of defence.
For someone who keeps goal for England, Hart does not inspire confidence in situations such as these. Diouf beat him easily, sliding his shot through the keeper’s legs. Moments later, he nearly did the same, almost turning home a low cross from Peter Odemwingie, who injured his knee in the process and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Stoke City - the latest match in picturesShow all 116 1 /116Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City - the latest match in pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 0 Brown Ideye nods in a brilliant header to score the only goal of the afternoon.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 0 West Brom players rush to congratulate the Nigerian striker.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 0 Ben Foster had to be replaced after picking up an injury in the second half.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 0 Tony Pulis beat his former club again.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 2 Everton 0 Victor Moses puts Stoke in front with a superb header
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Newcastle 1 Stoke 1 Peter Crouch scores a late equaliser
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Newcastle 1 Stoke 1 Jack Colback puts Newcastle ahead with 15 minutes remaining
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 A corner comes into the box at the King Power Stadium
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 Jeffrey Schlupp attempts to cross the ball under pressure from Danny Higginbotham
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 Bojan is croded out by Danny Simpson
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 Marcin Wasilweski is booked for a heavy tackle
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 Bojan produced a piece of magic to score the winner for the away side
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Leicester City 0 Stoke 1 Steven N'Zonzi has a late effort at goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Arsenal 3 Stoke 0 Laurent Koscielny opened the scoring at the Emirates
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Arsenal 3 Stoke 0 Mathieu Debuchy was seriously hurt early in the match
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Arsenal 3 Stoke 0 Alexis Sanchez doubles the Gunners' advantage
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Arsenal 3 Stoke 0 The Chilean scored a second to make it 3-0
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Wrexham 1 Stephen Ireland of Stoke City celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's second goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Wrexham 1 Mark Carrington of Wrexham celebrates after scoring the opening goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Manchester United 1 Ryan Shawcross puts Stoke ahead
Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Manchester United 1 A close up of Van Gaal's notes during the match appeared to show the words 'stupid free-kick'
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Manchester United 1 Radamel Falcao equalises for Manchester United
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Manchester United 1 Falcao celebrates his goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Brom 0 Mame Diouf scores his first against West Brom
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Brom 0 Mame Diouf celebrates his second against West Brom
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 Ryan Shawcross and Romelu Lukaku suffered a nasty clash of heads early on
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 Garrth Barry takes down the marauding Bojan
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 Steven Naismith was one of many players to fall foul of Lee Mason
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 Bojan converts his penalty to score the winner
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 John Stokes blocks Mame Biram Diouf's cross
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Stoke City 1 Charlie Adam is booked for a strong tackle on Kevin Mirallas
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 Marin Kelly battles with Erik Pieters
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 James McArthur celebrates after his looping header put Palace into the lead
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 Peter Crouch celebrates scoring the equaliser
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 Steven N'Zonzi holds off Jason Puncheon
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 Ryan Shawcross wins a header at Selhurst Park
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Stoke City 1 Yannick Bolasie attacks Stoke late in the game
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Arsene Wenger reacts to his side's 3-2 defeat to Stoke
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Alexis Sanchez holds his head after the 3-2 defeat to Stoke
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Santi Cazorla scores from the penalty to make it 3-1
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud look disconsolate after conceding a third goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Stoke players celebrate after Jon Walters scores a third
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Bojan scores Stoke's second against Arsenal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 3 Arsenal 2 Peter Crouch scores Stoke's first after just 19 seconds
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Stoke 1 Juan Mata and Marcos Rojo celebrate United's second
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Stoke 1 Steven Nzonzi fires in the equaliser
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Stoke 1 Marouane Fellaini scores United's first goal of the game
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 Martin Skrtel wins the ball ahead of Georff Cameron
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 Raheem Sterling is pressured by former Liverpool player Charlie Adam
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 Philippe Coutinho dribbles with the ball
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 The game ended a run of four matches without a win for Brendan Rodgers
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 Steven Gerrard started from the bench for this game
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 Glen Johnson was hurt in heading Liverpool's winner
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Tottenham 1 Stoke 2 Kyle Naughton receives his red card
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Tottenham 1 Stoke 2 Nacer Chadli celebrates his goal for Spurs
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Tottenham 1 Stoke 2 Jon Walters scores Stoke's second
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Tottenham 1 Stoke 2 Bojan Krkic (right) fires his shot past the lunge of Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose to score the opening goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Tottenham 1 Stoke 2 The players observe a moment of silence in a mark of respect to fallen soldiers since World War I on Remembrance Day
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Ham 2 Bojan and Morgan Amalfitano battle for the ball
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Ham 2 Geoff Cameron tries to get past West Ham midfielder Alex Song
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Ham 2 Victor Moses celebrates after putting Stoke into the lead
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Ham 2 Mame Biram Diouf made it 2-0 before half-time and Stoke looked like they were heading for three points
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 West Ham 2 Stewart Downing is mobbed after scoring the equaliser that handed West Ham a point
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 2 Southampton 3 Southampton's Graziano Pelle celebrates his late winner
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 2 Southampton 3 Pelle scores Southampton's third, and his second
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 2 Southampton 3 Goalscorer Mame Diouf celebrates with Steven Nzonzi after Stoke equalise - but the jubilation was short-lived
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 2 Southampton 3 Asmir Begovic can't get anywhere near Pelle's early strike
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Southampton 1 Stoke 0 Sadio Mane of Southampton scores the opening goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Southampton 1 Stoke 0 Asmir Begovic of Stoke City watches the ball cross the line as Sadio Mane of Southampton scores the opening goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Southampton 1 Stoke 0 Dusan Tadic of Southampton battles for the ball with Charlie Adam
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Southampton 1 Stoke 0 Sadio Mane of Southampton celebrates with manager Ronald Koeman
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 Swansea 1 Stoke City players surround referee Michael Oliver after he awarded Swansea City a penalty
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 Swansea 1 Wilfried Bony of Swansea City scores the first goal from the penalty spot
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 Swansea 1 Peter Crouch complains about shirt-pulling during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Swansea City
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 Swansea 1 Stoke City's Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam celebrates scoring a penalty to bring the scores level
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 2 Swansea 1 Jonathan Walters of Stoke City (R) is congratulated by team mates on scoring their second goal, and what turned out to be the winner, against Swansea
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Sunderland were celebrating again in the 79th minute as Steven Fletcher got his second of the afternoonn.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Steven Fletcher helped improve the spirits at the Stadium of Light by putting the Black Cats back in front.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Charlie Adam got Stoke City back into the game almost immediately, wiping the smile off Gus Poyet's face.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Connor Wickham gave Sunderland early hope of finally securing their first win of the season.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Peter Crouch heads home the only goal of the game between Stoke and Newcastle
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Mike Ashley looks on during the game between Stoke City and Newcastle
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Alan Pardew at the match between Newcastle and Stoke
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Fans call for the head of Alan Pardew at the match between Newcastle and Stoke
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Stoke City 2 Jozy Altidore opened the scoring in this Capital One Cup Third Round tie
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Stoke City 2 However Marc Muniesa of Stoke scored a brace to see the Potters through to the next round
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Niko Kranjcar celebrates his late equaliser
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Niko Kranjcar equalises for QPR with a superb free-kick with just two minutes remaining
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Peter Crouch slams home to give Stoke the lead again
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Robert Green is helpless to stop Peter Crouch's goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 QPR players celebrate after their equaliser
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Steven Caulker and Leroy Fer celebrate the goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam can't keep Steven Caulker's header out
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Steven Caulker equalises for QPR
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Stoke players celebrate their opening goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures QPR 2 Stoke 2 Mame Biram Diouf heads in the opening goal from close range
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Leicester City 1 Despite having to draw in plenty of pressure in the first half, it was Leicester who took the lead. Leonardo Ulloa, who had already scored against both Everton and Arsenal, got their winner.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Leicester City 1 Inter Milan legend Esteban Cambiasso made his debut for the Foxes after coming off the bench.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Leicester City 1 David Nugent has endured a slightly frustrating start to life back in the Premier League. He was isolated for large periods in the opening forty-five minutes.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Leicester City 1 The first-half, a fairly scrappy affair, saw Ryan Shawcross receive lengthy treatment for a head wound.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 Mark Hughes celebrates victory against his former club
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 Mame Biram Diouf celebrates his goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 Mame Biram Diouf celebrates his goal
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 Stevan Jovetic and Ryan Shawcross exchange words
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 Sergio Aguero sees his shot saved by Asmir Begovic
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Hull City 1-1 Stoke City Ryan Shawcross grabbed a late equaliser for Stoke City as the goal line technology system proved his bundles effort had crossed the line.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Hull City 1-1 Stoke City Dr. Assem Allam, the Hull City chairman who was widely criticised for his rejected rebrand plans, looked happy from the stands.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Hull City 1-1 Stoke City Nikica Jelavic, on the stroke of half-time, then lifted the mood at the KC Stadium by tapping in the rebound from Tom Huddlestone's ambitious long-range effort.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Hull City 1-1 Stoke City Steve Bruce was visibly furious with the decision but his side remained calm and refused to let Stoke City's possession game tire them out.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Hull City 1-1 Stoke City James Chester was sent off for Hull City after just 13 minutes after a clumsy last-ditch tackle on Glenn Whelan.
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 Gabby Agbonlahor flies in to make a tackle on Erik Pieters during the first half of the contest
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 Stoke City skipper Ryan Shawcross shields the ball from Charles N'Zogbia, allowing Asmir Begovic to safely collect
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 Andreas Weimann celebrates the goal that put Aston Villa into the lead at the Britannia, he fired home from a narrow angle
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 One Aston Villa fan got a bit over-excited when Weimann scored, running onto the field to celebrate with the players
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 Glenn Whelan tackles Aston Villa new boy Kieran Richardson, signed from Fulham this summer, in the middle of the park
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Stoke City - the latest match in pictures Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 1 Stoke's Marko Arnautovic evades Charles N'Zogbia to put the home side on the attack
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Like Hughes, Manchester was Diouf’s shot at the big time. Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to United from Molde five years ago but his football was played on loan at Blackburn. This display, which included a reasonable shout for a penalty when Kolarov appeared to trip him in the first half, was an indication of what caught Ferguson’s eye.
These days, Manchester City possess the kind of aura that United once enjoyed at Old Trafford. Teams come here, half expecting to be beaten and matches become routine. This had a similar feel. You wondered if Stoke had scored too soon, then surveyed the firepower available to Pellegrini and asked yourself how long it would be before they broke through.
Stoke, with Ryan Shawcross marshalling his back four manfully, held out. The champions pushed forward but their attacks were ponderous and lacked focus. Stevan Jovetic, who had been irresistible against Liverpool on Monday night, was far too deep, driven back by the red-and-white wall in front of him. Too often he got under Silva’s feet.
“We tried to be patient, we tried to break them down, we couldn’t create space, we had a bad day,” reflected Pellegrini, who had lost Fernando to injury in the first half. “We did not play well but this is not a game we should have lost 1-0. It was too easy the way they scored from a counter-attack from their own box. These are the kind of games that happen once a year.”
In terms of goals, the greatest contribution to Manchester City’s second championship in three seasons came from Yaya Touré. He was once more the greatest threat to Asmir Begovic’s goal.
In stoppage time before the interval he had driven the ball on to the crossbar after Sergio Aguero had fed Kolarov with a delightful back-heel. After the interval, he saw a deflected shot fizz wide that half the stadium celebrated as a goal. Touré lay on his back grinning hugely.
The next time he went down in the area there were fewer smiles. Erik Pieters made a wild challenge and Touré fell spectacularly enough for the referee, Lee Mason, to book him for diving. Television replays suggested a penalty. When asked about it, Pellegrini attempted to be diplomatic and then could not help himself, saying he would not talk about referees then condemning Mason’s decision.
This time last year, with transfer deadline-day looming and Radamel Falcao being touted by Monaco on loan for £20m, Manchester City would have reacted by signing the striker just because they could.
In the first day of the Abu Dhabi takeover they had bought Robinho for Hughes and, half-jokingly, said they were prepared to pay £132m for Cristiano Ronaldo.
That was Manchester City before Financial Fair Play. “These are just rumours,” said Pellegrini, reacting to news Falcao had been withdrawn from the Monaco squad to play Lille yesterday. “We have important restrictions about how much money we can spend and how many foreign players we can use. It is not easy for us.” Last night Falcao indicated he was leaning towards Real Madrid.
Manchester City: (4-2-3-1) Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Touré, Fernando (Fernandinho, 37) ; Nasri (Navas, 63), Aguero, Silva; Jovetic (Dzeko, 63).
Stoke City: (4-3-2-1) Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; N’Zonzi, Whelan, Diouf; Walters (Odemwingie h-t; Adam, 64), Moses (Muniesa, 80); Crouch.
Referee: Lee Mason
Man of the match: Shawcross (Stoke)
Match rating: 7/10
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