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Parker: My stylish side show they can defend and soak up pressure

year. What was most pleasing is we saw that other side to us in the second half. I have doubted us at times when the games have become more of a slog and we’ve fallen a bit short.

“But credit to the defenders, they stood up like men. When it’s time to roll your sleeves up and do the basics and keep the ball out of the back of the net, we did that and that’s very pleasing.” Fulham were a joy to watch in the first half. But they found Jack Butland in inspirational form for Stoke. The England keeper saved well from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s shot after he had been set up by Josh Onomah. Championship top scorer Mitrovic then saw a header go over, but the Cottagers deservedly broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Anthony Knockaert’s goal-bound effort was pushed away by Butland, but only into the path of Reid, who could not miss.

Fulham were hit by an injury blow when Onomah limped off towards the end of the half and they could not reproduce their attacking efforts.

Stoke had been unimaginative in the first half, but were better after the break.

Jordan Cousins won the ball in midfield, stormed on and saw his effort kept out by Marek Rodak.

Fulham’s secondhalf display was more disjointed, not helped by another injury to Alfie Mawson.

They did look the more likely to add to the scoring as Joe Bryan’s 30-yard shot was superbly tipped over the bar by Butland.

But Fulham had to withstand heavy late pressure as Stoke launched long balls into the box with Rodak keeping out a James Mcclean volley.

The Potters never seriously threatened with skipper Ryan Shawcross playing on with an injury for the final 15 minutes.

They are only above the drop zone on goal difference and boss Michael O’neill said: “We struggled first half. Fulham were a yard sharper.”