Matthew Etherington had lashed the visitors in front from a tight angle on 29 minutes only for Seyi Olofinjana to level against his old club after 63 minutes with a superb 25-yard curling shot.

The Potters were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time when Abdoulaye Faye was sent off for a second bookable offence.

A minute into stoppage-time substituteJan Vennegoor of Hesselink smacked in a dramatic winner after Thomas Sorensen had parried a long-range drive from Jimmy Bullard, making his first home Barclays Premier League start for the Tigers.

For an in-depth match report, click here.