Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Coles (c), Dawson (Barmby, 63), Delaney, Jarrett, Marney, Elliott (Yates, 75), Fagan, Forster (Bridges, 75). Subs (Not Used): Duke (GK), Livermore.
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry (c), Higginbotham, Griffin (Hill, 85), Lawrence (Bangoura, 72), Russell, Diao, Hendrie, Pericard (Brammer, 62), Sidibe. Subs (Not Used): Paterson, Pulis.
Darel Russell has never been what you would call a goal-scoring midfielder.
A tenacious, hard working, tough-tackling grafter maybe, but never before has the 26-year-old from Mile End ever before scored more than four goals in a season.
So when his recent goal glut, three goals in his last five games and four for the season now, continued at the KC Stadium at the weekend, he could afford more than a wry smile.
His AK-47 sharp shooter celebration was perhaps a little overboard, but who could forgive him as his late strike gave City their third straight win.
Victories over Coventry and Crystal Palace in consecutive weeks made the Potters unbeaten in November travelling up to East Yorkshire.
And after a perfect start thanks to Danny Higginbotham and Russell's strike ten minutes from time, City are showing no signs that it will stop in the near future.
Liam Lawrence, a Friday night recruit from Sunderland, was drafted straight into the team in place of the departed Luke Chadwick for City's only change from the 1-0 win away at Palace last week.
And Lawrence had barely learnt his teammates names as City took the lead after just 79 seconds.
Lee Hendrie, so often chief creator for City in his two months at the club, was again on hand to provide the cross for Higginbotham to thump home without a black and gold shirt in sight.
The Aston Villa man could have also provided City's second goal of the afternoon had it not been for a smart save from Hull stopper Bo Myhill.
Hendrie's quick free kick was glanced goalwards by Lawrence, but the former City loan 'keeper palmed the danger away.
At the other end Steve Simonsen, who has had his fair share of criticism this season, was an immovable presence and dealt with a vicious Jason Jarrett effort from long range with relative ease.
Russell had chances to add to his recent goal scoring form in the first period when, after industrious play by the battling Vincent Pericard, the midfielder fluffed a golden chance from close range.
Craig Fagan was a constant nuisance to the City rearguard, but his final product was wayward, firing over the bar on more than one occasion.
Dean Marney tried his luck from distance but Simonsen matched the effort with a run of the mill save high to his left hand side.
But it was the Potters who always looked the more like troubling the scoreboard operator.
Russell again fired wide from the edge of the box, while two efforts from Pericard sandwiched Andy Griffin's attempts to floor Fagan, an act which saw him become the first name in Grant Hegley's notebook.
Those who accuse Pericard of being light on his feet would be inclined to view a decision made by referee Hegley as the half drew to a close.
After being clearly fouled outside the box, Pericard was hacked at by defender Danny Coles inside the area, the man on black waved play on with the Frenchman struggling to stay on his feet.
Soon after, Stuart Elliott attempted to have the final word of the half when he forced yet another smart save from Simonsen.
The second half produced far less efforts on goal, with Hull's aerial bombardment made a mockery of by the presence of messers Hoefkens, Higginbotham, Duberry and Griffin at the back.
City's rearguard put up forceful resistance to a Hull attack minus the height and power of Jon Parkin and rarely looked like relinquishing their clean sheet.
Nicky Forster selfishly chose to go it alone in the 50th minute despite Elliott screaming for the ball on the opposite side of the pitch as the Tigers threatened to press the self destruct button.
Elliott's free kick was magnificently tipped over the bar by Simonsen, while Damien Delaney fired over from inside the box.
Boss Tony Pulis sent on Dave Brammer for Pericard to sure up the centre of the park, while a clearly flagging Lawrence was replaced by Sammy Bangoura as City sensed the killer goal was just around the corner.
And Russell obliged with ten minutes remaining. A neat one-two with Bangoura on the edge of the box resulted in the tenacious midfielder firing through the legs of Danny Coles and into the net.
It sealed a job well done by the Potters whose strong defence and creative midfield provided the complete team performance from Pulis' men.
But the true test of City's mettle is sure to be next week.
If they are still in the top seven of the Championship come next Tuesday following the visits of West Brom and Cardiff to the Britannia Stadium, then it could be time to start getting excited...
Nick Clowes
