Ireland smashes the ball over the bar from the penalty spot after winning the ball off Cresswell.

Sturridge had been very good since coming on, but he can't force much of a save from Sorensen after firing a shot towards goal.

Two minutes of added time will be played and the points are all set to go to Manchester City.

The rain is hammering down at Eastlands now and both teams will be happy enough when the game is brought to a close.

Delap lays the ball off to substitute Whelan, but his cross goes flying over the bar. Hart isn't happy with his defence.

Kitson hold the ball up well for his side and turns before being fouled by Richards. Free kick to Stoke.

Stoke are still working very hard. They force a corner which is headed away by Ben Haim. Perhaps they do deserve a goal.

After this game today, it seems certain that Stoke City will have to continue the wait for their first ever Premier League victory.

Excellent skill from Sturridge forces yet another eye-catching save from Sorensen. He has been in decent form for his side.

A brief scare for the home side as Hart drops a cross, but the referee says he was fouled and it's a free kick to Manchester City.

Cross comes in from the right hand side from Wright-Phillips, but a stretching Ireland can't quite gee his head on the ball.

Manchester City hit Stoke on the counter attack and Ireland plays Wright-Phillips through on goal, but his touch lets him down and he has to settle for a corner.

The three goals for the Brazilian are fully deserved. He has been the best player on the pitch by quite some distance and his finishing has been superb.

With 20 minutes to go, Hughes will want his side to get themselves a third goal soon. Should they do so, he may rest some of his big name players with 10 games to be played in the next six weeks.

Kitson's first involvement of the game is to head a Soares' corner over the bar. He should have hit the target really.

Before this game had started, Manchester City had scored twice as many goals as Stoke so far this season and one today's evidence - you can see why.

Elano and Sturridge look to exchange passes, but the latter's final ball is too heavy and the move breaks down.

Fuller to his credit has played well today, this time he runs down the right flank before his cross is placed wide by Soares.

Robinho has an excellent chance to grab his third, but his curling effort is turned wide by Sorensen. So close!

Wright-Phillips has come to life in this second half, this time he takes on three Stoke defenders before his cross from a tight angle is blocked well by Danny Higginbotham.

Corner for Stoke is met by Hart who, under no pressure, manages to punch the ball away and end any hope of Stoke grabbing a goal.

Tony Pulis might have to consider changes soon because in the last five minutes - Man City have been very dominant.

Manchester City are running riot now. Robinho runs with the ball before hitting a powerful shot just wide of the target. That was nearly the hat-trick.

Richards comes close to making it 3-0 to the home side. From a corner, Dunne smashes the ball across goal and the England defender somehow manages to place his shot over the bar.

Excellent football from Manchester City as Wright-Phillips plays a one-two with Ireland before firing a shot towards goal that Sorensen has to touch behind.

Stoke are putting a bit of pressure on now, but just as Shawcross gets in a good position to launch another attack - the ball goes straight under his legs.

Soares then takes the free kick, but it is fired too low and is easily cleared by the Manchester City defence.

Soares moves forward down the right hand side and manages to win a free kick as his cross is blocked by Garrido's hand.

Robinho is showing his quality so far today, he hasn't even broken sweat and has scored two goals. This time he beats Andy Griffin before a firing a dangerous cross into the box which Sorensen claims.

Olofinjana collects the ball of Delap, but his left footed shot is blocked by the knee of Ben Haim. Good spell of possession for the away side though.

Every time Stoke go forward, something brings the attack to a close. This time Fuller is caught offside after a long ball over the top from Delap.

Manchester City will certainly look for another goal soon to really kill off Stoke City.

That could potentially be game over now - can Stoke really get themselves back on level terms?

An excellent flick on from Sidibe sets Fuller away, but with the goal right in front of him, the striker fires high and wide. That was a great chance.

Seyi Olofinjana fires a shot towards goal, but it goes straight into the arms of Hart.

Evans had done so well in this opening half and he will be disappointed that he has had to come off at this early stage.

Mamady Sidibe and Richards go shoulder to shoulder as Stoke look to launch an attack, but the battle of these two strong players is won by the Manchester City man.

Wright-Phillips darts into the Stoke box, but not for the first time today he is surrounded by defenders very quickly and as a result loses the ball.

Perhaps Stoke City shouldn't be too down as yet because 80% of their goals this season have come in the second half.

Evans makes his first obvious mistake of the game as his pass towards Richards goes a couple of yards wide of the intended target. Luckily though, it didn't cost his team.

Manchester City break down the other end of the pitch immediately and Robinho uses excellent vision as he aims for Ireland, but Stoke just manage to cut the ball out. Unlucky.

Stoke corner finds the head of Ryan Shawcross and Hart has to make a solid save to prevent the away side equalising.

Dunne has stayed down after making that challenge on Fuller - hopefully he will be back on his feet before long.

Fuller looks to take on Dunne on the right hand side, but the Manchester City captain comes out on top and wins the ball. Excellent defending.

Elano and Robinho exchange passes as Manchester City push forward once again, but nothing comes from the attack as Higginbotham makes a solid challenge.

Not for the first time in this half, Evans threatens down the right hand side, but after a good piece of skill his cross doesn't quite reach Ireland.

Stoke just can't seem to keep the ball moving in the final third as Delap is the man caught offside this time.

Manchester City are in total control of this game right now and will be determined to add a second goal before the break.

A scrappy Manchester City move ends with Ben Haim letting fly from long range, but rather predictably - it goes miles wide.

Wright-Phillips bursts downt he right hand side, but his low cross into the box doesn't find a Manchester City player.

Just as Fuller looks as though he is clear on goal, the linesman flags for offside and the move breaks down. That's frustrating.

Free kick for the home side from 25 yards is curled over the wall and wide of the post by Elano. Good strike, but Sorensen had it covered.

The game has gone rather quiet in the last couple of minutes and this will suit Tony Pulis. As long as it stays 1-0, they are still in the game.

Another corner for Stoke is wasted as Soares is caught offside after taking the set piece short. Good pressure from Stoke, but nothing comes of it.

Another set piece for the visitors is curled into the box and after Ben Haim's original header, Dunne smashes the ball away.

Soares' corner is delivered into the near post, but Ben Haim makes up for his previous error by heading the ball away.

Fuller forces Hart to make an excellent save after winning the ball off Ben Haim. Corner to the away side.

It is perhaps no suprise that Stoke have conceded a goal as they are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

That was superb work from Evans in the build up to the goal and Stoke have it all to do now.

Stephen Ireland collects the ball off Micah Richards, but as he looks to move forward with the ball, he tries to keep hold of it too long and loses it.

It is worth mentioning that Manchester City have alternated between win and defeat in their last eight home games. They lost last time out at Eastlands.

Delap collects the ball in midfield this time, but as he slides a pass into the path of Tom Soares, Richard Dunne intercepts and clears.

Delap's first trademark long throw is claimed well by Joe Hart - it will be interesting to see how Man City cope with that today.

Garrido whips in an excellent cross from the right hand side, but under pressure from Evans - Sorensen punches the ball away.

Ricardo Fuller's first involvement in the game is to use his pace to beat Ben Haim, before his pass across the six yard box avades any attacking players.

Stoke launch a ball forward towards Mamady Sidibe, but his flick on goes straight to Manchester City and Tal Ben Haim clears.

Ched Evans has an excellent chance to make a good impression on Mark Hughes today, but so far he can't seem to keep hold of the ball.

Rory Delap covers well for Danny Higginbotham after Wright-Phillips gets inside the full-back and the attack breaks down.

The resulting corner is played towards the near post and despite claims for handball, Stoke manage to clear the danger.

Javier Garrido wins the ball off Stoke and finds Robinho who forces the first save from Thomas Sorensen. Corner.

Shaun Wright-Phillips is surrounded by three Stoke defenders as he gets the ball for the first time. They will know he is a big threat to them today.

This is the first meeting between these two sides since the 1998/1999 season when they both occupied a place in English football's first tier.