They did it the hard way after trailing at half time, but second half goals from Seyi Olofinjana and substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink saw them come storming back to take all three points.

Jimmy Bullard made his full debut for the Tigers as Phil Brown made five changes to the side. Bullard came in for the suspended Geovanni while Bernard Mendy replaced Paul McShane. Richard Garcia, Jozy Altidore and Craig Fagan also came into the side at the expense of Dean Marney, Kamel Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Former Tiger Leon Cort was on the bench for Stoke.

After a well observed minute's silence to mark Remembrance Sunday, the game kicked off in front of a full house with City playing towards the North Stand.

Bullard had the first shot of the game after being set up by Altidore, but the midfielder blasted over from 25 yards.

Bullard went closer in the eighth minute, sending a low shot just past the post from outside the box.

Matt Duke was called into action for the first time four minutes later, pushing away Ricardo Fuller's low effort.

Stoke's Ryan Shawcross was booked on 14 minutes after going through the back of Fagan. From the free kick, Mendy tried an ambitious shot from 35 yards which flew well wide.

A good move from City involving Bullard and Mendy set up a shooting chance for Altidore in the 20th minute, but his effort went wide of the far post.

Garcia then had a great chance as he was played into the box, but his shot was deflected just wide.

That started a decent spell of pressure from City, but a Stoke break-out resulted in a yellow card for Mendy as he brought down Matthew Etherington.

Despite City's good start, it was Stoke who broke the deadlock after half-an-hour. A long ball out of defence split Mendy and Kamil Zayatte allowing Etherington to burst into the area and he beat Duke at his near post.

City hit back with Garcia creating a chance for Altidore, but he could only head wide.

Half Time: Tigers 0-1 Stoke

Stoke won a free kick early in the second half when Garcia fouled Glenn Whelan, but James Beattie fired over from the set-piece.

City made their first change seven minutes in as Nick Barmby replaced Garcia.

How Stoke didn't double their lead in the 54th minute remains a mystery. Etherington played a lovely one-two with Fuller inside the box before playing a low ball across the face of goal. Anthony Gardner could only divert it towards his own net, but the ball hit Duke and trickled just past the post.

Robert Huth was booked two minutes later for deliberately pulling down Altidore.

The Tigers were level on 62 minutes when Seyi Olofinjana produced a moment of real quality. Turning on the edge of the box, the former Stoke man picked his spot and curled a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.

City were keen to go in search of more and when Barmby clashed with Abdoulaye Faye as the City man tried to take a quick throw-in, the Stoke player was booked for preventing a quick restart.

A goalmouth scramble almost led to City going in front. After goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had failed to gather the ball, Fagan just couldn't regain his feet quickly enough and his eventual shot from a tight angle was deflected wide.

City's second change of the afternoon saw Vennegoor of Hesselink replace Altidore.

Stoke were reduced to ten men with three minutes to go. Faye and Barmby clashed once again and the Stoke man was shown a second yellow card.

The Tigers took full advantage as they took the lead in added time. Bullard's shot from 25 yards was beaten away by Sorensen, but it dropped to the feet of Vennegoor of Hesselink and he fired home past the grounded keeper.

City then made their final change as George Boateng replaced Fagan.

They successfully saw out the final three minutes of added time to claim a thoroughly deserved three points.

Tigers: Matt Duke, Bernard Mendy, Kamil Zayatte, Anthony Gardner, Andy Dawson, Richard Garcia (Barmby 52), Seyi Olofinjana, Jimmy Bullard, Stephen Hunt, Craig Fagan (Boateng 90), Jozy Altidore (Vennegoor of Hesselink 83).

Subs: Tony Warner, Paul McShane, Kevin Kilbane, George Boateng, Nick Barmby, Kamel Ghilas, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Stoke: Thomas Sorensen, Robert Huth, Glenn Whelan, James Beattie (Kitson 61), Ricardo Fuller (Tuncay 81 (Wilkinson 87)), Ryan Shawcross, Dean Whitehead, Danny Collins, Rory Delap, Abdoulaye Faye, Matthew Etherington.

Subs: Steve Simonsen, Danny Higginbotham, Leon Cort, Liam Lawrence, Dave Kitson, Tuncay, Andy Wilkinson.

Referee: Mr M. Dean.

Attendance: 24,516.