Shaky Stoke survive brave Fulham fightback

STOKE almost threw away a 3-0 half-time lead against Fulham last night but eventually clung on to end a run of six Barclays Premier League matches without victory.

The Cottagers were stunned as Tuncay Sanli nodded in a close-range header from a 12th-minute corner and the Potters then scored twice within three minutes of each other just after the half-hour through Abdoulaye Faye and Mamady Sidibe. Damien Duff pulled one back in the 61st minute before a stunning Clint Dempsey volley five minutes from time set up a rousing finale.

The win was the Potters’ first in the league since November 22, while Fulham have now gone nine away matches without victory.