Sheffield United moved into fourth position in Division One as an injury to Carl Asaba proved the catalyst for a deserved victory over Stoke at Bramall Lane.
The Blades manager Neil Warnock was forced to replace the striker, who has been struggling with a back problem recently, shortly after half-time but replacement Peter Ndlovu took just four minutes to force an own goal from Peter Handyside.
Michael Brown sealed the victory with a penalty eight minutes later and the hosts held on for the points despite a late goal from Chris Greenacre.
United welcomed back talented midfielder Phil Jagielka from suspension but they struggled to get into the game early on as Stoke made a lively start.
The visitors were on the attack in the second minute and midfielder Peter Hoekstra threatened with an 18-yard shot which rose into the crowd.
Andy Cooke then sent a header off-target before the Blades finally came to life with a decent build up which allowed Jon-Paul McGovern to find the safe hands of Stoke goalkeeper Neil Cutler from long range.
In-form Carl Asaba, who hit a hat-trick against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, soon began to cause problems for the visitors' defence and the striker was unfortunate to see two efforts drift narrowly wide of Cutler's right-hand post.
The Potters battled to maintain their decent start but were being overrun in midfield, with Michael Tonge and Wayne Allison both failing to hit the target from promising positions in the 18th minute.
And four minutes later, Asaba looked certain to break the deadlock after collecting Allison's knock-down but his strike from inside the box was turned away by the legs of Cutler.
A header on the half-hour mark from Tommy Mooney, which flew high over the crossbar, provide a rare moment of rest for the City back line although the striker came closer moments later with a left-foot shot which flew the wrong side of the upright.
Allison wasted another great chance with an unmarked header which went over the bar without troubling Cutler and, after Stoke's Brynjar Gunnarsson had been booked for a foul on Brown, the home midfielder curled a free-kick over the bar with five minutes of the half remaining.
The interval seemed to do the visitors good and United rocked in the opening minutes of the second period as Mooney's glancing header was brilliantly pushed away by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Kenny produced another good save six minutes later, holding Bjarni Gudjonsson's powerful strike, and Stoke were lifted further on the hour by the departure of the injured Asaba, replaced by Ndlovu only two matches after returning from a back injury.
But the switch proved to be inspired as Ndlovu, who hit the post with his first effort on goal, forced defender Handyside to turn the ball into his own net under pressure with 62 minutes gone.
Eight minutes later, the Blades all but sealed three points when Brown fired home from the penalty spot after Wayne Thomas had brought down Tonge inside the area.
And though Stoke pulled themselves back into the game when substitute Greenacre claimed his first goal for the club with a cool finish from 18 yards, United tightened up to ensure they did not throw away the win their performance deserved.
The win was good and bad for the Blades, a 2-0 victory was a good result but they would have gone 3rd on goal difference had ex-Mansfield striker Chris Greenacre not scored with just 5 minutes left.
Man of the Match: Difficult won to give as their were quite a few players deserved it but I think I will give it to Paddy Kenny who impressed again after pulling off some world class saves.