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Stoke boost survival hopes with win over Manchester City

Other News Materials 31 January 2009 18:57 (UTC +04:00)

Stoke City gave their hopes of avoiding relegation from the English Premier League a massive boost on Saturday when they beat Manchester City 1-0 despite playing for almost an hour with only 10 men, dpa reported.

James Beattie headed the only goal of the game in the fifth minute of first-half injury time to give Stoke victory and lift them out of the bottom three.

Manchester City were given a one-man advantage when Rory Delap was sent off on 38 minutes for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips and then kicking the ball at the winger from point-blank range.

Wright-Phillips was lucky not to get at least a yellow card for a retaliatory kick out at Delap, but Stoke scored against the run of play right on the half-time whistle when Beattie scored a fine header at the far post.

Manchester City failed to make use of the advantage in the second half, though, and Stoke held on for what could prove to be a crucial victory.

Later on Saturday, champions Manchester United, two points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool at the top, travel to Everton, while Aston Villa could go second if they beat Wigan at Villa Park.

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