**
The teams shared possession almost equally at 51.4%-48.6%, but the story of this Championship encounter lay not in territorial control but in ruthless efficiency versus profligate finishing. Hull peppered the Stoke goal with 15 attempts yet managed just one on target, while the visitors converted one of their six efforts to claim three precious points.
The decisive strike arrived against the run of play. Stoke broke with pace down the left flank, working the ball quickly into the penalty area where Bozeník reacted fastest. His left-footed effort from close range found the centre of the goal, leaving Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur with no chance. The finish was simple, the build-up clinical, and the timing devastating for a Hull side that had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges.
Hull's response was immediate but lacked the cutting edge required. Liam Millar and Joel Ndala probed down the flanks, while Oliver McBurnie battled tirelessly against Stoke's resolute centre-backs Ben Gibson and Ashley Phillips. Darko Gyabi and Regan Slater controlled midfield passages, yet the final ball consistently eluded their attacking teammates. Matt Crooks saw a header from six yards sail wide, while Lewie Coyle's long-range effort flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
Viktor Johansson in the Stoke goal was rarely troubled, making four routine saves while his defenders absorbed wave after wave of pressure. The visitors' discipline proved impeccable, with Bosun Lawal and Maksym Talovierov snuffing out danger whenever Hull threatened to break through.
The turning point came deep into stoppage time when Kasey Palmer, introduced as a substitute, rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive from distance. The MKM Stadium held its breath, but the ball bounced clear and with it went Hull's best chance of salvaging a point.
The closing stages descended into chaos as Hull threw bodies forward. Enis Destan headed wide from close range, while McBurnie saw a goal-bound effort saved by Johansson's outstretched leg. Sorba Thomas and Bae Jun-Ho dropped deep for Stoke, breaking up play and running down the clock with professional fouls that earned yellow cards but preserved their advantage.
Hull City will travel to face Portsmouth on Saturday, 3rd May, seeking to bounce back from this frustrating defeat, while Stoke City will host Burnley on the same day, aiming to build on this hard-fought away victory.