Battling Stoke hold off Manchester City

A goal from James Beattie for 10-man Stoke was enough to give them three valuable points at home against Manchester City. Beattie, a £3.5 million (Dh18.7m) signing from Sheffield United, scored his second goal in successive games to give the Potters their first win since November. Stoke, who had taken a break in Dubai to give them fresh impetus, had Rory Delap sent off in the 38th minute for bringing down Shaun Wright-Phillips from behind and then foolishly kicking the ball against the player on the ground.

The City player did retaliate with a kick, but escaped punishment. That sense of injustice seemed to spur Stoke and they scored in the fifth minute of first-half injury time.