Stoke 3-2 Brentford

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Sergei Shtaniuk's first goal for Stoke decided a pulsating promotion battle against Brentford at the Britannia Stadium as City edged home.

The Belarus international buried a header from Bjarni Gudjonsson's 77th-minute corner to end Brentford's seven-game winning run.

Peter Hoekstra had set up Stoke goals for Brynjar Gunnarsson after 31 minutes and Chris Iwelumo three minutes after the interval.

But Brentford came storming back on both occasions through Ben Burgess on the stroke of half-time and an excellent 55th-minute finish by Lloyd Owusu.

Stoke: Cutler, Thomas, Handyside, Shtaniuk, Clarke, Gunnarsson, Neal, Vandeurzen, Gudjonsson, Hoekstra, Iwelumo. Subs: Ward, Cooke, Goodfellow, Rowson, Smart.

Brentford: Gottskalksson, Dobson, Powell, Ingimarsson, Anderson, Mahon, Hutchinson, Sidwell, O'Connor, Burgess, Owusu. Subs: Paul Smith, McCammon, Rowlands, Jay Smith, Williams.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington)