Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence scored the goals to lift Stoke City into the top half of the Premier League table and keep Hull City firmly anchored in the relegation zone.

Iain Dowie has preached the power of positive thinking since becoming ‘temporary football management consultant’ two weeks ago and that philosophy was reflected in his attacking formation, Craig Fagan joining Caleb Folan up front as Hull abandoned the policy of playing five across midfield on their travels. Given their predicament and the fact they had not mustered a single away victory in the league all season, Dowie no doubt determined that a change of emphasis was overdue.

It was, however, an enforced alteration that lead to the first significant moment in the match. With loanee Ibrahima Sonko prohibited from playing against his parent club, Paul McShane had to move from full-back into the centre of Hull’s defence and his error in the sixth minute gifted Stoke an opportunity to open the scoring. The Irishman misjudged a flick-on from Dave Kitson, allowing Fuller to beat him to the ball and canter into the box. With the outside of his right foot the striker flipped the ball past Boaz Myhill for his third league goal of the season.

Stoke continued to pressurise in their familiar, effective way. Tony Pulis’s team may not be the league’s most fluent passers but they are safely ensconced in mid-table because they manage to threaten sporadically while ensuring most opponents struggle to build meaningful moves against them. As ever they chased the ball relentlessly here and when they got it they worked it quickly into dangerous positions, usually via Matthew Etherington or Lawrence.

The hosts created what few chances there were in the first period. Rory Delap’s throw-ins were, of course, a constant menace, Robert Huth booting over from 16 yards after one was mis-cleared, and Kitson meeting another in the 43rd minute before glancing his header high and wide. Stoke did not depend on set-pieces and after one flowing move in the 29th minute only a smart last-ditch tackle from Steven Mouyokolo prevented Fuller from firing off a shot from 15 yards.

Desperate Dowie shifted to 4-2-4 for the second half in an attempt to connect Hull’s hitherto disjointed parts. The switch did perk the visitors up and they briefly pushed Stoke on to the back foot.

Tackling became more intense, yellow cards proliferated, but chances remained rare. George Boateng produced the first goal-bound shot of the second half but a block by Glenn Whelan prevented it from reaching the target.

Stoke nearly doubled their lead in the 77th minute but Kitson failed to get a clean touch when right in front of goal and Myhill smothered the chance.

Moments later Hull were reduced to 10 men as Boateng was carried off the field on a stretcher after Tuncay Sanli inadvertently kicked him in the face while attempting to perform an overhead kick. Having already made three substitutions Dowie could not replace the midfielder. In the 89th minute, as Boateng left the stadium in an ambulance, Lawrence passed the ball into the bottom corner from 16 yards after being teed up by Etherington.

Premier LeagueStoke CityHull CityPaul Doyleguardian.co.uk

A game that was supposed to be about one left-winger became a tale of two. There was a crushing inevitability about Stephen Hunt scoring against Wolves, the club who have submitted three bids in a relentless pursuit of the Irishman. Yet the unexpected twist was supplied by Matt Jarvis, a man who could be displaced from his berth on the flank at Molineux by Hunt, but the supplier of a point here for Wolves.

He scored the second of two equalisers as goals from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Hunt were cancelled out by the visitors.

With the teenager Tom Cairney granted a league debut in the centre of midfield, Phil Brown picked a two-man strikeforce, a decision that was vindicated when they combined for the opening goal.

Indeed, Cairney instigated the move, picking out Jozy Altidore with a pass. What followed was an example of the American’s upper-body strength as he brushed aside Christophe Berra’s attempts to foul him before laying the ball for Vennegoor of Hesselink. His crisp, first-time shot defeated Marcus Hahnemann.

The lack of goals by the specialist strikers is an issue that has vexed Brown. Vennegoor of Hesselink’s was just the fifth in the league this season; as the Dutchman has the majority of them, albeit with just three, he is not the prime culprit.

Wolves’ first Premier League goal since 12 December entailed a moment of generosity from the opposition. First Hunt dallied in possession and lost the ball to Ronald Zubar. Then, after the right-back’s one-two with Kevin Foley, his cross should have been cleared by Anthony Gardner. Instead, the central defender’s slice looped over Boaz Myhill and into his own net.

Within two minutes, Hull had regained their advantage. Zubar undid his good work with a clumsy challenge on Altidore and Hunt compensated for his earlier error with an emphatic penalty.

But Wolves mustered a second equaliser. Foley crossed from one flank and Jarvis, cutting in from the other, met it with a drilled shot that beat Myhill at his far post.

Premier LeagueHull CityWolverhampton WanderersRichard Jollyguardian.co.uk