Stoke City matchwinner Peter Crouch is happy proving his critics wrong.

Crouch came off the bench to nod home Stoke's winner against Hull City on Saturday.

The goal moved him level with Alan Shearer on 46 headers.

Crouch said: "There were a lot of people in the early days who said I was better on the ground than at heading, so it's pleasing to rub it in a little bit.

"A lot of people said, for my size, I wasn't as good (at heading) as I should have been when I was younger.

"Becoming the record-holder for headed goals in the Premier League is something I didn't think would happen when I was 15 or 16.

"But I worked on it, I continue to work on it, I'm very pleased to have equalled the record and hopefully I can go beyond it.

"I enjoy heading and I think that's part and parcel of my game. Being 6ft 7ins helps, but you have to have the technique as well.

"I'm very proud - Alan Shearer's a hero of mine. He's one of the best, if not the best, striker the Premier League's ever seen, and to equal any record of his, I'm very pleased with that.

"I've signed for a couple of years more - so hopefully I can manage one more during that time!"