Under-fire Hull boss Phil Brown stepped away from the limelight after his team bought him precious breathing space with a vital win over Stoke.

Brown, whose position had been under heavy scrutiny after a dreadful run of form, chose not to speak to the media after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink hit a last-gasp winner at the KC Stadium.

Hull, having won just three times in 33 Barclays Premier League games, had seemed destined for another damaging defeat after a first-half strike from Matthew Etherington.

But the Tigers, re-invigorated by the presence of record signing Jimmy Bullard, earned reward for their greater endeavour as Seyi Olofinjana levelled - and Vennegoor of Hesselink struck moments after Stoke had Abdoulaye Faye sent off.

"He's having a Guinness - he deserves one," said assistant manager Brian Horton, when asked about Brown's absence at the post-match press conference.

"He does like the spotlight - there's nothing wrong with that - but tonight he's chosen not to.

"He's just come out of the spotlight. He's having a Guinness. Why shouldn't he?

"He's a good manager and does lots of good things that people don't see. He's got a great future in the game."

Horton, however, was more guarded when asked whether he felt the win had saved Brown's job.

"I refuse to answer that question," he said.

"I don't think it should be asked today.

"We hope we can now go on a run, and nobody talks about stupid things like that."

Hull were the better team throughout, and Etherington's effort came against the run of play on 30 minutes after the hosts had already missed several chances.

Bullard, making his long-awaited home debut after 10 injury-ravaged months, was at the forefront of all the Tigers' good work and gave his side drive and determination.

Olofinjana - who quite Stoke for Hull in the summer - clipped in a superb equaliser just after the hour.

Ryan Shawcross headed against the bar for Stoke. But Faye's dismissal for a second bookable offence left the visitors hanging on, and substitute Vennegoor of Hesselink fired home after a Bullard shot was beaten away.

Horton said: "It was a good display. I thought the manager got the tactics spot on.

"We called for a big effort from them, and I thought they responded brilliantly.

"There's a great feeling in the dressing room. It's like we've won at Wembley again."

As for Bullard's 90-minute performance, Horton added: "He was tremendous - he'll get every man-of-the-match award going.

"He's got the champagne - but he'll recognise what others have done."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis felt his team were below par.

"We're disappointed," he said.

"It is the third time we have led away from home this year and not won the game.

"We weren't at our best - but when Matty scored we were hoping that would take us on."

Pulis angered striker Tuncay when he substituted the player just six minutes after bringing him on, because of Faye's red card.

Tuncay shook his head and walked straight down the tunnel, but Pulis could understand his reaction.

He said: "I've got no problems with that, but it still won't stop me doing it again.

"It is not about me or Tuncay; it is about the team. We have lost a centre-half, so we had to put another defender on."

Pulis was unhappy with the sending-off, which occurred in a frantic finale.

He said: "I'm desperately disappointed with the two bookings. The second one, looking at the replays, he had not caught Nick Barmby at all."