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Post by Homzy on Jan 1, 2008 18:08:39 GMT
Tony Pulis admitted Stoke missed their star performer Ricardo Fuller after they hung on for a 1-1 draw against impressive Hull.
The Jamaica international, Stoke's top scorer with 11 goals, had to fly home to attend the funeral of his grandmother.
Pulis said: "We missed Ric badly but family is much more important than football and I'm sure everyone understands the situation.
"We don't know if he will be back for our cup game against Newcastle on Sunday and he will ring me later in the week.
"Hull played really well but it was a funny game because our goalkeeper has not really had a save to make.
"Their goalkeeper had made two fantastic saves in the first half. I thought his first one from John Parkin was a wonder save."
The opening half hour would not have cured any new year hangovers with Hull holding territorial advantage and Bryan Hughes threatening twice.
But the game burst into life when Stoke took the lead with their first effort of the match in the 33rd minute.
Visiting keeper Boaz Myhill flapped at a huge throw from Rory Delap and former Hull defender Leon Cort glanced in a near-post header.
Stoke were transformed in the next five minutes when Sam Ricketts cleared off the line and Myhill made amends with excellent stops from Parkin and Liam Lawrence.
Dean Windass hammered a shot straight at Steve Simonsen on the stroke of half-time and they started to boss the game early in the second period.
An equaliser was overdue by the time it arrived in the 61st minute when Windass produced a pinpoint cross for Caleb Folan to head home.
Windass then headed a Hughes cross on to the top of the crossbar and Stoke were forced to soak up further pressure to secure their point.
Hull boss Phil Brown said: "We are very pleased to remain unbeaten over the Christmas period and we should have ended it with a win.
"I'm disappointed to come away with a point and I think Tony Pulis will be happy with a point.
"The stats showed we had 32 crosses to Stoke's nine and 14 shots to their seven. That's impressive for an away side.
"We should have defended the long throw better but we took the game to Stoke for big parts of the game and it was a pleasing performance."
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