Stoke City 2-0 Hull City: Gary Rowett says Potters can 'relax' after first win

Stoke can "relax and enjoy the feeling" but their first win of the season against Hull is "nothing to get excited about", says manager Gary Rowett.

The Potters boss picked up his first three points since taking charge at the Bet365 Stadium as his side put in a dominant display to beat their 10-man visitors.

Republic of Ireland international James McClean opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a fierce low drive from the edge of the area after Hull failed to clear a corner.

The hosts made it 2-0 just before the hour mark as Mame Biram Diouf's effort looped into the bottom corner after deflecting off Tigers defender Jordy de Wijs.

"I think we've tried to stay calm. We've tried to give players an opportunity as well," said Rowett. "I thought the players that came in today did well and gave us more physicality.

"We felt if we kept doing the right things and built on the first 25 minutes of Wednesday night's game and not focus on all the other things that happen, then we could get some form of reward.

"I think we did today, 11 v 11. We were very comfortable. I thought Hull played their part but the sending-off allowed us to kill the game off."

Stoke, relegated from the Premier League last season, had taken two points from their first four games of the campaign, and lost 3-0 at home to promoted Wigan in midweek.

Former Birmingham and Derby boss Rowett, appointed on a three-year deal this summer, responded to that defeat by making five changes to his side, handing a debut to Everton loanee Cuco Martina and restoring Diouf and Peter Crouch to the side.

The victory was their first at home since January, with Hull's chances of a comeback hampered when Brazilian midfielder Evandro was sent off for a second bookable offence.

"I said to the lads afterwards 'just breathe, relax and enjoy that feeling' because it's been a while and it's just one win.

"It's nothing to get too excited about but it's a start and now it gives us a little bit of a platform to use that to get more confidence and belief."

Veteran striker Crouch had a chance to make it 3-0 late on but side-footed wide from Martina's cross.

Hull rarely threatened and, having recorded their first league win at Rotherham on Tuesday, Nigel Adkins' side have now lost three of their five Championship games this season.

Hull City head coach Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside:

"We started the second half very well, passing the ball about and doing all right. Then, for me, it's a bad second goal to give away, we could have avoided it.

"Evandro gets sent off, so for five or 10 minutes we tried to steady the ship and get something from the game but it's challenging from that point.

"We can't give goals away from set pieces, we work hard on it and we're going to have to work harder.

"Look at the size of Middlesbrough and West Brom. It's the Championship - you need six big guys in your team. We have to bring players in."