Stoke City 2 Hull City 0: Boateng fear adds injury to insult for troubled Hull

Boateng suffered a nasty facial injury at the weekend after being accidentally kicked in the face by Stoke City's Tuncay.

The former Dutch international spent Saturday night in a local hospital and although initial fears of a fractured jaw were later dismissed by doctors, it is clear the influencial figure could still miss some key matches.

His absence, even for one of the last six matches, will be a major loss to the Tigers who remain in the bottom three after this defeat at the Britannia Stadium.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill says the rest of Hull's players now have to display the same sort of bravery as Boateng to ensure the club avoids the drop.

Myhill was just feet away when Boateng stooped low to head the ball only to feel the full force of an attempted overhead kick from Tuncay.

"It's never nice to see one of your mates in a situation like that and there was blood all over the place," said Myhill. "Life throws these challenges at you but that's why George is captain because he puts his head in for situations like that.

"He's as brave as a lion, he's a leader, and it's up to the rest of us to follow him. Hopefully he will be playing next week but, if he's not, it's up to someone else to step up to the plate."

Manager Iain Dowie revealed that 34-year-old Boateng had been struggling to breath in the immediate aftermath of the incident due to the amount of blood in his throat.

His departure with 16 minutes to play also signalled the end of a brief revival by the Tigers who had been threatening an equaliser at that stage.

Dowie had already used three substitutes so his side had to play on with 10 men.

Liam Lawrence subsequently rubbed salt in the wounds by scoring close to the end, adding to the sixth-minute lead provided by Ricardo Fuller.

Despite his side's failure to test Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen all afternoon, Dowie felt there were still positives to take into next week's vital home game with Burnley.

"We were just forcing the game when we went down to ten men," he said. "It was a bitter blow at a time when we were in the ascendancy.

"That's the manager's stupid fault for making three changes that early!

"I have seen enough spirit and desire and know the lads really care about the club," he added. "They are prepared to put a shift in and we are capable of getting a few positive results, that's for sure."

Hull's away form remains a major Achilles heel for it is now 22 games since the club's last league victory away from the KC Stadium.

Fortunately, only two of their remaining six games are on the road – against Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic – yet Dowie insists that home results alone cannot be relied upon to avert the drop.

"Home form is always vital but we have got to go away and dig out points too," he said. "Fates conspire but we must find a way to win away from home.

"We have got to go to Wigan and Birmingham and take something – I think that will be required."

Both Caleb Folan and Bernard Mendy had returned to the Hull side after missing the previous game against Fulham.

Folan replaced the unlucky Jozy Altidore while Mendy was employed at full-back with Paul McShane moving into the centre as a replacement for Ibrahima Sonko, who was ineligible against his parent club Stoke. It was a dreadful mistake by McShane, however, that gifted Stoke their early lead.

McShane was caught completely flat-footed as Fuller ran onto a flicked header by Dave Kitson. Although his last-ditch tackle caught Fuller on the ankle, it arrived far too late to prevent an opening goal.

Stoke showed all the qualities that will undoubtedly safeguard their Premier League status for a third consecutive season.

Well-organised, a constant threat at the set-piece, and difficult to break down; everything that Hull should aspire to be next season – if they stay up.

While Jimmy Bullard showed a willingness to receive and distribute the ball, he rarely attacked defenders. Optimistic balls floated in the direction of Craig Fagan or Folan were easily mopped by Stoke's defence.

The second-half introduction of substitute Geovanni sparked improvement and the Brazilian set up Fagan but his shot was blocked.

Fagan wasted an even better opportunity moments earlier when his first touch sent the ball rolling back to Sorensen.

Stoke would have wrapped things up sooner if Tuncay had hit the target following a poor clearance by Myhill.

The Hull goalkeeper was stranded in no man's land yet Tuncay scuffed the shot wide before holding his hands up in shame. It was left to Lawrence to put the game beyond Hull's reach in the 89th minute.

A forgetable afternoon was made complete when Bullard took a late corner and blazed it over to the far touchline.

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Stoke City: Sorensen; Huth, Faye, Higginbotham, Collins; Lawrence, Delap, Whelan (Whitehead 72), Etherington; Fuller (Tuncay 45), Kitson (Sidibe 84). Unused substitutes: Begovic, Pugh, Shawcross, Wilkinson.

Hull City: Myhill; Mendy, McShane, Mouyokolo, Kilbane; Garcia (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72), Bullard, Boateng, Marney (Geovanni 58); Fagan, Folan (Altidore 64). Unused substitutes: Duke, Dawson, Barmby, Olofinjana.