The Potters succumbed to two first half goals as moneybags Man City extra class showed in the end.
The visitors started well and although didn't look dangerous themselves they did stop the hosts from creating anything early on and it wasn't until the eighteenth minute that they had a shot on target as Robinho's tame effort was easily held by Sorenson.
Moments after it was the Potters who almost broke the deadlock as Tuncay raced onto a Collins through ball but saw his effort saved by the feet of Given, who needed treatment after colliding with Toure making the stop.
City were playing some neat football in the final third but the final ball was continually cut out on delivery and three penalty shouts were all turned down, rightfully so, before the deadlock was broken on twenty eight minutes. Abdoulaye Faye lost the ball after drifting into midfield and a quick counter saw Collins have to come inside to cover and leave Martin Petrov unmarked. Robinho's miskick fortunately fell to the Bulgarian and he slammed home the opening goal.
Stoke were disappointed and found it hard to break down a City side who were now more than happy to sit on their lead and it seemed it would stay 1-0 at half time until the lead was doubled in the third, and final, minute of added time as Barry outjumped Collins and Diao at the far post, nodding the ball into Tevez, the Argentinian striker just swivelled and knocked the ball past Sorenson.
The second half started almost as productively as the first finished with Robinho racing through only to be denied by a superb sliding tackle from Wilkinson. The ball ran free to Tevez, he took the shot first time, but Sorenson was equal to it and got down to stop the shot before being alert enough to pinch the ball awy from the incoming Robinho, who looked to tap into the unguarded net.
The Eastlands outfit seemed content with the score after this and made it hard for the Potters to break them down, Fuller and Huth nodding just wide whilst Whelan had a rasping effort blocked by a sprawling defender.
Beattie stepped off the bench and almost made the breakthrough for Stoke but the effort was tipped round the post by Given in what was Stoke's last clear opportunity as Bellamy brought anotehr good save out of Sorenson late on.