Stoke won but the promotion party is on ice

Stoke defeated relegated Colchester but will have to wait to secure promotion after Hull beat Crystal Palace.

Richard Cresswell deflected home a Liam Lawrence shot in first-half stoppage time and the Potters were within minutes of promotion to the top flight.

But Hull struck a late winner, meaning Stoke need a point against Leicester next weekend to guarantee promotion.

Colchester, playing their last match at Layer Road, nearly equalised but Carlo Nash denied Kevin Lisbie.

"All we could do was to try to put in a performance so that we could give people some happy memories.

"I think we played magnificently and we dealt with all but one of their long throws into the box, and that has cost us and won the game for Stoke."

"It could have swung towards Hull but it has stayed with us.

"Someone came over and said it was 1-1 at Hull - but I didn't realise the full story until the end of the game."

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Virgo (Balogh 43), White, Duguid (Platt 88), Jackson, Hammond, Elito, Lisbie, Vernon (Sheringham 62).
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Izzet.

Stoke: Nash, Riggott, Shawcross, Cort, Dickinson, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe (Ameobi 79), Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Pugh, Pearson.

Booked: Ameobi.

Goals: Cresswell 45.

Att: 6,300

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).