Lawrence boosts Potters' prospects

The midfielder showed great composure to control James Beattie's flick on, turn inside Gael Givet and fire past goalkeeper Paul Robinson at the near post.

It lifted Tony Pulis' side to 39 points, well clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining.

Beattie could have put his side ahead against one of his former clubs in only the second minute when Rory Delap's throw was half-cleared to Glenn Whelan and his shot was deflected over by the striker.

Abdoulaye Faye's blushes were spared by his goalkeeper in the 16th minute. The centre-back tried to head Stephen Warnock's hopeful through ball back to Thomas Sorensen but almost put it past him with the Dane just managing to get a hand to it.

Stoke were screaming for a penalty when Ricardo Fuller went down theatrically under pressure from Chris Samba but the Rovers centre-back had not touched him.

Fuller was booked for his second late barge on Samba in the space of a couple of minutes, with Warnock's name following into Howard Webb's book.

In the 55th minute Robinson made the first real save of note when he tipped over Lawrence's dipping drive from the right edge of the penalty area.

The breakthrough Stoke had been threatening finally came in the 75th minute.

Danny Higginbotham's deep cross from the left was flicked on by Beattie to Lawrence, who showed great composure to bring the ball down, turn inside his marker and fire a shot into the near post which Robinson got a hand to but could not keep out.