Away we go.

So how do these half-time scores affect the relegation battle? Not a great deal to be honest.

Sunderland are the only side in the bottom six on course to pick up a point, with Palace, Hull and Swansea all losing. Middlesbrough are not in action today, remember.

But one suspects the Black Cats, who are still nine points adrift of Hull, will need more than a draw.

Marko Arnautovic's goal is the difference at the break, but in truth the Austrian could have had a hat-trick. 

Hull have had their moments but nothing really to trouble Lee Grant in the Stoke goal. 

Big improvements are needed if the Tigers are to break their dismal run of away results, while Stoke will feel confident that they will get chances to put the game to bed after the break.

Hull's Oumar Niasse has gone into the book there for a pretty innocuous coming-together with goalkeeper Lee Grant after the whistle had blown.

Niasse is getting a very hard time from Stoke's players and Grant is making the most of what contact there was. 

Niasse eventually goes over to Grant to apologise, but the keeper seems to turn the offer down.

All a bit needless. 

Replays also show Niasse putting his hand up to Geoff Cameron's face after the yellow was shown. The referee was right on the spot and let it go but the on-loan Everton striker was playing with fire a bit there.

Image source, Reuters

It didn't go in.

What was I just saying about Hull's decisions?

Kamil Grosicki got in behind his markers down the left and should surely have taken a pop at goal but instead went for a pass to Niasse that was never really on and Stoke clear the danger. 

More Hull pressure ends when Markovic elects not play in Clucas on the edge of the area when his midfield colleague was better placed.

Better decision-making is needed at key moments if Hull are to turn this around.

Image source, Reuters

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Final Score

Hull keep pushing forward and are playing some good football at the moment. They deserve to convert one of these half-chances.

Charlie Adam is pinging a few lovely balls around today and with his latest he releases Arnautovic down the left. It eventually comes to Berahino in the area but Ranocchia is there a split second earlier and clears the danger.

It's been all Hull for a few minutes but Stoke look so dangerous when they do go forward. 

And again it was Arnautovic threatening for the hosts, running in behind before dragging his shot just wide. 

He could have had a hat-trick on another day.  

Image source, Getty Images

The corner is a difficult one for Lee Grant to deal with but deal with it he does. Charlie Adam's attempted clearance was then charged down by Tom Huddlestone, whose low cross forces another corner that comes to nothing.

Erik Pieters was down for Stoke in the build-up to that chance. He's now had some attention and will be waved back on shortly.

And another chance goes begging for the Tigers. Robertson's cross was met with a diving header by Markovic but it goes wide. 

Referee Attwell says it got a touch off a Stoke player. Corner.

Another decent opening for Hull after the corner but it probably fell to the wrong man, Harry Maguire picking up on the loose ball and trying to find a path to go but instead blazing over.

Pressure is mounting on that Stoke goal.

Good chance for Hull. Maguire lofts a lovely ball into the Stoke area for Markovic, who elects to take it first time on the volley, forcing Lee Grant into a good - if routine - save. Corner for Hull.

Hull's Andrew Robertson balloons a cross high into the stands with his normally trusty left boot. 

A sign, if one were needed, that this is not Hull's day so far...

So very nearly the equaliser for Hull!

Markovic's pass was touched on by Clucas and Oumar Niasse had a chance to turn home from about four yards but the ball ran just past his boot. 

A warning for Stoke.

Hull just starting to show a bit more going forward with Kamil Grosicki coming into play down the left, but the Tigers look vulnerable on the counter.

Xherdan Shaqiri sees a shot charged down by about three Hull players as Stoke keep Hull on the rack.

Mark Hughes' side are not playing like a team coming off a run of four straight losses.