SERGEI Shtaniuk and James O'Connor scored for Stoke, as The Seasiders were beaten 2-0 by the division's new leaders at the Britannia Stadium.

Shtaniuk powerfully headed home Bjarni Gudjonsson's 13th-minute corner to hand Stoke the lead, in a first half the home side dominated.

And O'Connor met another Gudjonsson cross in the 82nd minute to head past Phil Barnes from close range, after a well timed run into the box.

Gudjonsson was almost the provider in the 23rd minute, but Andy Cooke was unable to find the finish after turning to fire at Barnes following good work by the Icelandic star.

Three minutes later Gudjonsson's curling cross from the right was met by a brilliant diving header from Chris Iwelumo, but Barnes matched the striker's acrobatics with a superb one-handed save. Moments before half-time, Stoke came close when Gudjonsson again was almost on target, but he was unable to connect from just five yards at the back post after former Burnley frontman Andy Cooke fired the ball across goal.

After the interval, the home side flattered to deceive and never really played at their best, and Steve McMahon's men had two chances to level.

John Hills fired straight at home keeper Neil Cutler when he had a clear sight of goal in the 56th minute, and with 10 minutes left on the clock Andy Payton's effort was smothered by Cutler following a careless backpass by City's Karl Henry.

But Stoke's second goal knocked the stuffing out of The Seasiders, and the home side could even have added a third had Barnes not managed to tip Clive Clarke's dipping shot from 25 yards over the bar in the 83rd minute.

McMahon's team stay in 14th place, as their game was one of only two matches in the Second Division to go ahead because of the weather.

Stoke City 2 - 0 Blackpool