Amazing! That is the only word that can be used to describe the finale to the Potters first away league win of the season.
Spurs pressed throughout but the Potters defended resolutely and looked more and more likely to make the breakthrough the further the game went on.
The Potters had the first opportunity of the match after just two minutes when Etherington drilled an effort across the 6-yard box, that seemed destined for the alert Beattie, who had positioned himself ready for a simple tap in, before Woodgatw threw himself at the ball and diverted in round the post. A clash of heads saw Woodgate come off worse and he eventually had to come off about ten minutes later.
Keeper Steve Simonsen, in for Sorenson who had fell ill before kick off, dealt well with his first task as he came and got his fingertips to a Lennon cross and deny Crouch the chance of getting an effort on target.
Crouch was again denied when he thought he was about to open the scoring when his header was cleared off the line by an amazing goal line clearance from striker Beattie, a show of the commitment the City side have.
Lennon also went close when he forced Simonsen into a diving save and Crouch also directed another header towards the far post, but the City keeper was again there to knock the ball away.
The closest the hosts came though was when Kranjcar cut inside, played a one two with Crouch and unleashed a venomious shot that slammed onto the base of the post and flew away to safety. The closest the Potters came was on half time when Diao fizzed a shot inches wide from outside the box.
The second half saw the Potters come into the game more but not before Kranjcar forced Simonsen into another save, holding onto a well hit free kick from the Croat. City then had hearts in mouth as Keane was slid in by Palacios. he shot across Simonsen and the keeper could only push the ball back onto the edge of the 6-yard box. Peter Crouch was there to tap the ball in but, under the watchful eye of England manager Fabio Capello, Ryan Shawcross and Dean Whitehead slid in to hook the ball away between them.
City could have been awarded a penalty on 55 minutes as Beattie was shoved in the back as he lept to head Etherington's cross goalwards. After that it was back to defending for Stoke as Crouch again won an header but again was denied by Beattie on the line. The striker beat Simonsen to the ball but the ball fell to Corluka. With the defender able to pick his spot with the keeper grounded he, under pressure from Shawcross, produced a weak effort that rolled into the grateful arms of Simonsen.
City sub Tuncay was looking lively and after winning a free kick he took it quickly and played in Etherington. The winger ran at the defence before rolling the ball to Tuncay. The Turkish star struck the ball goalwards but was denied by a great block from Corluka.
Spurs were reduced to ten men with ten minutes remaining when Aaron Lennon walked off the field having picked up an injury following a foul by Whelan. The City midfielder was back in the thick of the action as Stoke sensed the opportunity for a famous win. Whelan played the ball to Etherington inside his own half, the left sided player knocked the ball past two defenders before switching the play to Fuller. The Jamaican held the ball up and then found Tuncay, who cut inside the full back but sliced his shot wide of the post.
After Jenas blasted a free kick well over, Stoke delivered the fatal blow when Fuller produced a fantastic piece of skill to trick his way past Assou-Ekoto. The defender then swung a leg at Fuller but the striker stayed on his feet and played the ball to Whelan who whipped the ball across Gomes and into the top corner to send the City support wild.
Stoke then comfortably held out, well apart from a penalty shout against Salif Diao after the midfielder, who was outstanding throughout, seemed to catch Kranjcar in the last minute of injury time.
Stoke: Simonsen; Wilkinson. Collins, A.D.Faye, Shawcross; Delap(Whelan 59), Etherington,Diao, Whitehead , Beattie(Tuncay 70), Fuller(Higginbotham 90)