Charlie Adam’s first-half goal saw Fulham slip to a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday.

Fulham fans have seen the Whites involved in several thrilling games this season. This was not one of them as Adam’s 26th-minute strike proved the difference in a pretty forgettable game.

Fulham, for their part, attempted to play some neat football, but apart from an early Giorgos Karagounis effort that fizzed just wide and a late shot from Dimitar Berbatov that forced a save from Asmir Begovic, this was a match that won’t be fondly recalled by the Whites.

Martin Jol made four changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Sunderland last weekend. Philippe Senderos replaced the suspended Brede Hangeland, Ashkan Dejagah came in for Damien Duff, while Chris Baird - back from a one-match ban - and Mladen Petric took the places of injured duo Alexander Kačaniklić and Bryan Ruiz. There was a spot on the bench for Academy youngster Charles Banya, as well as Pajtim Kasami, Mahamadou Diarra and Neil Etheridge. In Hangeland’s absence, Berbatov took the Captain’s armband.

Fulham lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Karagounis on the left of midfield. Baird was in the middle alongside Steve Sidwell, with Petric up top with Berbatov.

On a cold and wet afternoon at the Britannia Stadium, Fulham had the first shot of the game in the second minute, with Karagounis’ effort from 22 yards fizzing three feet wide of Begovic’s right-hand post. Three minutes later, Begovic collided with his own teammate in Robert Huth as they both went to clear a Matthew Etherington backpass. With the ball rolling towards the net, Ryan Shawcross got back to boot it to safety.

At the other end, Aaron Hughes made a good sliding tackle on Peter Crouch as the former England man threatened to go clear, before Huth rose highest to meet an Etherington corner but headed just wide. Senderos went into the book in the 19th minute for blatantly blocking the run of Etherington.

Stoke went in front in the 26th minute. Ryan Shotton’s cross from the right was met by Crouch at the back post. He climbed above Senderos to nod the ball down into the path of Adam, who took a touch before swivelling and firing past Mark Schwarzer from five yards.

Glenn Whelan saw a long-range drive fizz just wide of the near post on 33 minutes and Fulham had an almighty let off moments later when Adam’s inswinging corner was headed onto the crossbar by Shawcross.

Fulham finally began to get their game together towards the end of the half. A good move ended with Begovic sticking out a leg to prevent Berbatov’s cross reaching Petric, before proceedings from the opening 45 minutes came to an end.

There were no changes by either team at the break and, early into the second half, Sidwell could have done better with a diving header from Dejagah’s inviting cross.

On 66 minutes, Schwarzer made a great save to tip over Huth’s header from Adam’s corner, before Duff came on in place of Karagounis on 72 in a move that saw Dejagah switch to the left flank.

Dejagah drifted over to the right shortly afterwards, though, teeing up Berbatov for a crack at goal. The Bulgarian’s shot was fierce but Begovic was able to push it away to safety. Petric then tried his luck from distance and although his effort was straight at Begovic, the Stoke keeper needed two attempts to gather it.

With 10 minutes to go Fulham made a second change, Hugo Rodallega replacing Sidwell. The move, while bold, left Fulham open at the back and Stoke nearly took advantage. Substitute Kenwyne Jones had the ball in the net late on but his effort was ruled out for offside in what proved to be the final action of the match.