Stoke City remain on course to achieve their best points total in the Premier League after a hard-working victory over Hull at the Britannia Stadium.
Peter Osaze Odemwingie’s well-taken goal, his third in as many games, was enough to secure the win for Mark Hughes’s men.
Hull’s Liam Rosenior had the best chance of the first half, but could not find the target with a free header.
Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic pulled off a superb save from David Meyler’s deflected shot after the break.
Victory moved the Potters onto 40 points, and they need eight more from their final six matches to ensure their best tally since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2007-08.
They have already beaten Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal at home this season, and have lost just once in their past nine league games.
Hull, meanwhile, may be peering nervously towards the relegation zone having taken just three points from the past 15 available, though they still hold a seven-point advantage over 18th-placed Cardiff.
Steve Bruce’s men had the better of the chances in the opening period, and almost opened the scoring through midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who had a low drive from outside the area pushed away by Begovic.
The Tigers, who returned to the top flight in the summer after a three-season absence, soon had a better chance to break the deadlock, but defender Rosenior headed over from close range.
Odemwingie then had two chances to score, but dragged an effort wide before having a shot well gathered by stand-in Hull goalkeeper Steve Harper.
But it was Begovic who pulled off the save of the match at the other end, clawing away Meyler’s powerful deflected strike, with striker Nikica Jelavic unable to slot home the follow-up.
Former West Brom striker Odemwingie finally found the net just after the hour mark, intercepting Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross-field pass before surging forward to drive home a low finish.
With the visitors unable to force an equaliser, Stephen Ireland could have made it a more comfortable margin of victory, but his shot was tipped over by Harper.
