Overview
- Robert Bozenik scored in the 39th minute for his first Stoke goal before leaving early in the second half with a dislocated shoulder and was taken to hospital for assessment.
- Manager Mark Robins said first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson’s shoulder problem likely requires surgery after he was hurt earlier in the week.
- Emergency recall Tommy Simkin, 21, returned from a loan at Leyton Orient to start, kept a clean sheet and made a key close-range save.
- The match featured lengthy treatment stoppages, including oxygen administered to Bozenik on the pitch, and finished with 17 minutes of added time.
- The victory was Stoke’s fifth straight win at Hull’s MKM Stadium, with local reporting noting the injuries could complicate the club’s January transfer plans.