Fuller’s gloss finish has Stoke shining

STOKE may be renowned for the sort of no-nonsense tactics which puts the ball in danger of needing physio treatment, but there is also a subtler side to their talents.

Ricardo Fuller proved as much yesterday, capping a flowing move with a deft finish to secure yet another home win for the Potters and inflict more misery on luckless Portsmouth, who had missed an eighth-minute penalty through Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Pompey have now lost 10 games this season and remain rooted to the foot of the table, four points adrift of safety.

It could have been so different had Boateng shown more composure from the penalty spot.

Aruna Dindane was caught in the head by Rory Delap’s boot as he went for a high, bouncing ball but Boateng’s penalty was weak and too close to Thomas Sorensen, who saved easily to his left.

“You can’t legislate for missing a penalty,” manager Paul Hart said. “I thought we played well, defended extremely well and controlled the game for most of it.

“To say we are disappointed not to have something from it is an understatement.”

Portsmouth’s frustration was compounded by their goalkeeper, David James, suffering an injury in the pre-match warm-up that necessitated a late call for reserve Jamie Ashdown.

James, 39, had a knee operation at the end of last season and has admitted he does suffer with “irritation”, but the latest setback is a calf problem.

Only a week ago James said he was confident of being fit for this summer’s World Cup after England coach Fabio Capello insisted he would not take any players to South Africa who were carrying injuries, although Hart said it was too early to assess the seriousness of this latest injury.

“He pulled a calf muscle warming up,” he said. “The World Cup is in June, a calf muscle is usually about three weeks. I think he will be fit for the World Cup.

“We are managing the situation at the moment and up until now he has been out on the pitch. It has not been a real problem.”

In truth, this was a scrappy game. Portsmouth’s penalty aside, neither side threatened a breakthrough in the first half, with Stoke unusually lacklustre.

Portsmouth started the second half in the ascendancy, with Jamie O’Hara bringing the best save of the game out of Sorensen in the 52nd minute when his 35-yard drive was tipped around the post at full stretch.

That at least appeared to wake up Stoke. Fuller’s low shot, after Dean Whitehead had launched a counter-attack from his own penalty area, was deflected over his own crossbar by Younes Kaboul, with Robert Huth heading the resulting corner wide.

Rory Delap’s throw then picked out Fuller at the far post but his half-hit six-yard shot was collected by Ashdown.

Portsmouth’s best chance since the penalty fell to Dindane in the 64th minute but he hooked a left-foot volley wide with only the keeper to beat from 12 yards. That miss proved costly as Stoke forged ahead with 16 minutes left.

Etherington cut in from the left and exchanged passes with Whitehead before playing the ball up to Fuller, who turned on the edge of the area to curl a shot past Ashdown and into the far corner.

“I thought the first half was as poor as we have played and Thomas (Sorensen) has changed the game with his penalty save,” said Stoke manager Tony Pulis, whose side moved up to ninth.

“We were a little bit better in the second half and it was a great three points for us. It was a quality goal. To have played 13 games and got 19 points means we are delighted.”

REFEREE: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 7: The penalty decision was fair enough.

MATCH RATING: ** Dull for long spells, but at least Stoke’s goal gave the fans something to remember.