Stoke 3-0 Brighton | The FA Cup 5th Round

Stoke v Brighton, R5,
The FA Cup 5th Round - 19/02/11
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Stoke scored three goals in the first half as they booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of League One leaders Brighton.
The Premier League side took the lead in the 14th minute when John Carew headed in Rory Delap's long throw-in.
Stoke's second goal was scored by Jon Walters after he nodded Marc Wilson's cross across keeper Peter Brezovan.
The third came shortly before the break when Ryan Shawcross headed in Wilson's flick from Jermaine Pennant's corner.
Stoke only managed six attempts on target but they scored from three, while the visitors did not manage to test Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen until the second half.
Tony Pulis's side were helped on their way by Seagulls stopper Brezovan, who will not look back on this match with great fondness.
The 6ft 6in 31-year-old Czech keeper replaced regular choice Casper Ankergren as a reward for helping Brighton reach the fifth round. However, manager Gus Poyet may have been rueing his loyalty to Brezovan after two early errors resulted in his side being 2-0 down after only 22 minutes.
Stoke's first goal came courtesy of another dangerous Delap throw-in, which was flicked in by Carew past the Brezovan, who appeared to flap at the delivery.
And the shot-stopper then failed to get anywhere near a header from Walters after Wilson had played a great one-two with Pennant before whipping in a delightful cross.
Shawcross then went close with another header at the far post, with Pennant again being the provider, before having more luck two minutes before the break.
On this occasion, the 23-year-old Chester-born defender made space for himself to nod in Wilson's flick from Pennant's corner.
Brezovan's opposite number Sorensen had been finding it hard to keep his hands warm in the cold Britannia Stadium, having not been tested in the first half.
So it would have come as some sort of relief for the Dane - and joy for the visitors and their travelling fans - when forward Ashley Barnes stung his gloves with a firm effort.
Stoke sat back for a large part of the second half, much to the frustration of the home support, as Brighton pressed, hoping for the comeback to end all comebacks.
But the disappointing aspect of their display, apart from the three goals conceded, was that the final ball was often woeful.
Midfielders Gary Dicker and Elliott Bennett had found it difficult to exert their influence on the game and were harried and hustled by a faster and stronger Stoke midfield.
Late on, Brighton substitutes Cristian Baz and youngster Jake Caskey did try their best to provide their fans with some cheer with shots from distance but neither effort really troubled Sorensen.

[@MrAshonicko]

Brighton are a really good team and they have a good fan base
wish you all the best and one day you could play us again
and i am a Stoke fan

[@xandermarjoram8622]

We never looked like scoring that day, hoping for a better game (from Brighton's perspective) tomorrow!

[@Sidger7]

We are Stoke City. We play how we want.

[@Joeybakes_]

@Yessarr 0:26 - stokes second goal... if thats not football i dont kow what is. riht back recieves the ball from a short goal kick. plays it down the line to the winger. winger holds on to the ball and right back overlaps. winger lays the ball to right back. right back dinks the ball into the middle for striker to glance header in. ;)

[@Lemonhead86]

what do they play? tennis? cricket? looks like football to me.

[@thenator1000]

whoevers hating, who's in the final eh?, who's now in the prem for 5 seasons running? stop complaining, you're jelouse

[@thenator1000]

@Acdc2693 were safe, so were certain to be in it for 5 seasons

[@rockguitar2012]

@mattyrosenufc "Worst football team ever" is a bit harsh, lol! They're not the best team ever, but they're not that bad x]

[@alemayoberhanu2012]

that is the best play

[@JWClinch]

Who cares? Stoke play to their strengths. Deal with it, stop complaining.

[@Yessarr]

@MrAshonicko Obviously not.

[@Joeybakes_]

@Yessarr actually stoke play some very good football.... even good enough to grace the international stage... its just that people didn't expect us to stay up in our time in the prem, so they come up with stupid theorys as an excuse because thy cant admit they were wrong.

[@krazypizza1163]

👍🏻

[@thenator1000]

@thefacup shawcross

[@JJman015]

Jermaine Pennant

[@tiktoke1736]

So stoke this 🤣

[@Yessarr]

Stoke don't even play football.

[@jimmy13United]

@thefacup j

[@mattyrosenufc]

Stoke are the worst football team ever, they still have to score from set pieces against lower league teams.

[@pj5517]

Mongo get confused

[@TheHatman1234]

FAKE!