Stoke City survived a second half fight-back from visitors Southampton to record a vital 3-2 victory to move up to third place in the Coca-Cola Championship.
In a game that truly earns the cliché 'a game of two halves', Ryan Shawcross, Mamady Sidibe and a Darren Powell own goal fired the Potters in to a 3-0 half time lead, before conceding two quick goals in the second half.
Tony Pulis' side were then on the back foot for a period before improving to see out the remaining 20 minutes creating more chances in the process.
The City boss made two changes to the side that started the game against Wolves. Ricardo Fuller started up front at the expense of Paul Gallagher, and skipper Andy Griffin replaced Gabriel Zakuani at right back. Gallagher and Zakuani were both named on the bench.
Meanwhile Rory Delap retained his place on the left of midfield, with Danny Pugh continuing at left back.
City started the match brightly, with an early trade-mark long throw from Delap causing problems in the Saints penalty area.
The hosts then had a chance to take the lead in the fourth minute as Andy Griffin's cross was just headed clear before Glenn Whelan's thunderous long range volley was blocked.
Less than a minute later Fuller was fouled on the edge of the box, but former Preston man Pugh struck his left foot effort over the bar after being teed up by Liam Lawrence.
Southampton's first effort on goal came in the ninth minute, but John Viafara's cross was snuffed out by Griffin.
City went close again straight away. A good ball by the in form Lawrence, found its way to the edge of the six yard box, but Saints' defender Andrew Davies held off the advances of Mamady Sidibe.
The Potters had a shout for handball in the 18th minute following Lawrence's corner. In a goal mouth scramble the ball appeared to strike the arm of Powell but the referee ignored the appeals of the home side. Stern John nearly headed Saints in front on the counter attack but Simonsen held on to the ball well.
Stoke went on the attack instantly and Fuller was pulled back on the edge of the area. Lawrence's free kick flew just wide of the right hand post.
City earned another free-kick in the 25th minute, when Alexander Ostlund brought down Pugh after the left-back had overlapped onto Delap's through ball. Lawrence's free kick was nearly headed into his own net by Powell but the ball went out for the corner.
City's dominance paid off moments later when Lawrence's corner caused havoc in the Saints penalty box. The ball was eventually prodded into his own net by Andrew Davies, giving the Potters a deserved lead.
One become two less than ten minutes later. Lawrence won another corner on the right, and his accurate centre found the head of the fast approaching Shawcross, who powered the ball past Kelvin Davis to give Stoke a 2-0 advantage.
Some great work by Griffin with a crunching but fair tackle sent Fuller Through on goal but his shot from an acute angle hit the side netting as Stoke tore into the visitors.
An exciting first half became even more entertaining moments before half time, when another precise Lawrence corner was met with a towering header from Sidibe, netting his first goal of this season's campaign. Giving City a convincing 3-0 lead at the break.
City went to sleep at the start of the second half as Stern John scored within seconds of the restart to give Southampton hope.
Saints nearly scored a second instantly when Jermaine Wright's low cross fizzed across goal but no one was able to make contact in the middle.
Five minutes later City had a chance to make it four when an excellent spell of passing released Pugh down the left. His cross was cut out but landed at the feet of Delap but his left foot shot flew over.
City were made to pay for that miss moments later when John shot under Simonsen from close range to make it 3-2. John was then sent through on goal but he blew his chance of a hat-trick and a Saints equaliser as his low shot flashed across goal.
City were looking very edgy as John had yet another chance after a slip by Shawcross, but luckily he fired wide of the right-hand post. Davies then had a long range effort deflected wide.
Stoke had to shake off another scare when a long ranger from Jason Euell was deflected just wide of Simonsen's right hand post.
The Potters began to impose themselves on the game once more as Fuller hit a low shot but it was safely gathered by Davis.
Stoke forced a corner with fifteen minutes remaining when Lawrence free kick evaded everybody and was turned round the post by Davis.
Moments later Salif Diao forced another corner he won the ball in midfield. He ran through on goal but was denied by the joint efforts of Davis and Davies. The resulting corner was whipped in by Lawrence but former Crystal Palace star Cort saw him header plucked out of the air by Davis.
Fuller had the same bad luck when Davis held on to his flick on, just moments later.
Four minutes of injury time had everyone tense, but City managed to keep their nerve to secure another superb three points as the race for the Championship hots up.
By Matt Nichols
