Burnley 0 Stoke City 1

Last updated : 28 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

A goal from Ade Akinbiyi seven minutes into the second half proved enough to earn Stoke the points and extend their undefeated run to four.

But it's a far more different story for Burnley, this was their fourth successive defeat and they are now firmly entrenched in a relegation battle.

Stoke finished the game with ten men after Marcus Hall was harshly sent off for two yellow card offences and the visitors also battled on after losing goalkeeper Ed de Goey and centre-back Gerry Taggart to injury.

The decision goal was a gem, with the outstanding John Eustace playing a ball behind the Burnley backline for Akinbiyi to run forward and slide in his fifth goal of the season.

Akinbiyi was unlucky to see a goalbound shot pushed away by Burnley keeper Brian Jensen, while a great effort from Eustace dropped on top of the net with Jensen beaten.

Stoke didn't allow the dismissal of Hall to interfere with their defensive resolve and they comfortably coped with Burnley's powder-puff forward play.

The alarm bells are ringing at Turf Moor, but the Potters are very much a team in revival mode, this was their third away win on the trot following victories at West Ham and Watford.