Premier League: Stoke City 0 Fulham 2

Chris Baird’s first-half double gave Fulham a 2-0 away win over Stoke to ease pressure on manager Mark Hughes.

Fulham had been looking nervously over their shoulder after a miserable start to their Premier League campaign which saw them win just twice in their opening 18 games.

And they had dropped into the relegation zone after losing against fellow strugglers West Ham on Boxing Day. But after claiming three points at Britannia Stadium, their first away win over the season, the Londoners climb into 16th place.

Northern Ireland defender Baird had never scored for Fulham but in a manic opening 10 minutes he netted twice to secure all three points for the visitors.

Fulham started brightly and were rewarded as early as the fourth minute when Baird slammed the ball home from 25 yards out, leaving Asmir Begovic with no chance.

Ten minutes later, Baird struck again after an Andrew Johnson assist to put his side two-nil ahead.

Stoke responded with a barrage of Rory Delap throw-ins. In the slippery conditions the ball skidded around and goalkeeper Fulham Mark Schwarzer was forced to punch a Matthew Etherington effort to safety.

Ricardo Fuller went close when he swerved through the Fulham defence and looked set to finally pull a goal back for the dominant home side but he was tackled by Aaron Hughes at the last moment.Delap continued to launch throw-ins into the Fulham area but resolute defending saw the visitors hold out for three valuable points.