Comment by Denis Smith

STOKE need to start scoring again and one goal at Hull City tomorrow should ensure a result.

I see Ricardo Fuller has gone four games without a goal and we all saw that James Beattie was a little off the pace last week because of fitness problems.

Two goals in the last four games has put a bit of pressure on the Stoke lads, even though

I’m sure 39 points is enough to keep us up anyhow. Maybe the players have been tensing up a bit after getting so close to the finishing line a few weeks back.

Players don’t want to make mistakes and so you can get the ball being knocked forward a bit quicker and a bit longer than you’d like.

Stoke’s problems are nothing compared to Hull’s, however, and we all know they need a result to settle their nerves down at the bottom. With both teams struggling to score of late, I’m expecting a tight and tense battle with few goals.

Stoke are difficult to break down at the best of times, while Hull have reached that stage mentally where they don’t know where their next win is coming from.

Liam Lawrence will be a miss if he fails a fitness test because he’s given Stoke some exuberance down the right. I expect Richard Cresswell to replace him, especially away from home, because his energy, aggression and discipline will be wanted to prevent any gaps appearing in the first hour or so.

Hull also have their injury problems and midfielder Ian Ashbee, who will sit this one out, will be a big loss to them. I like him because he’s a leader, one who’s prepared to talk, organise and get into people.

Ashbee and George Boateng generally like to sit in front of their back four, but it will be interesting to see whether they Hull will be more adventurous in a game they might feel they must win.

Hull began like a train at the start of the season because they took teams by surprise. Instead of digging trenches and setting out their stall like most promoted teams, they were using their pace to catch teams on the break.

They also had Geovanni smashing in free-kicks from all over the pitch, but there was always the feeling he was a fair-weather player and he’s been pulling a face of late.
Others will trace Hull’s problems back to the afternoon Phil Brown berated his players in front of their own fans during the half-time interval at Manchester City.

Each to their own, I suppose, but I can’t say it’s a tactic I’d have ever used because you’ve always got to keep your players onside.

The Hull lads would have been sat their thinking we are professional players, not schoolboys, and we don’t deserve this.

I know if I’d have been one of them I’d have stood up and told the manager to sort things out in the dressing room, not in front of the world and his wife.

Other Stoke City stories on Why Delilah today:
Pulis confident Coates will invest in team again
Lawrence called up for Republic of Ireland
Tigers boss aiming to claw back Potters
Lawrence in race to be fit for Hull showdown
Denis Smith: Stoke need to start scoring again
Abdoulaye Faye as good as any Premier defender, claims Pulis
Shawcross aiming for Euro summer with England
In the know - Hull City
Talking tactics - Hull City vs Stoke City
Pen pics - Hull City
Match stats - Hull City vs Stoke City
Taking a punt: Hull City vs Stoke City