Stoke stumbled their way to a 2-0 victory over a thankfully lacklustre Watford side at a cold and uninspired bet365 Stadium; a result that take's Mark Hughes' men up to 11th in the league. It was a frustrating night for the fans who came to watch their team's best players but instead found them on the bench behind a number of the old guard who were once again preferred.
It was a contest unlocked via the improbable boot of captain Ryan Shawcross who gave the home side some breathing space seconds before the half-time break. Their second arrived shortly after the restart following more failed attempts at defending by the visitors, whose equally impotent efforts at the other end of the pitch saw the Potters hang on to emerge victorious.