STOKE CITY 2 – 0 FULHAM
Higginbotham 23
Jones 79
Att: 12,778
Stoke Heading into Fourth Round
Two headed goals were enough to see the Potters ease past Fulham on a night which will be mainly remembered for Wilkinson’s tackle on Dembele late on in the game. Danny Higginbotham headed Stoke into the lead midway through the first half and then Kenwyne Jones headed home the second from a Delap throw in the 89th minute.
Stoke made seven changes from Saturdays 1-1 draw with West Ham, Tuncay was handed a rare start and he relished in it by producing a performance which saw him collect the man of the match award. Stoke started the brighter with a couple of half chances for Tuncay and Fuller. Tempers flared up in the 12th minute when Etherington fouled Dembele and received a yellow for it but Murphy decided to make matters into his own hands and ended up throwing the ball into Shawcross’s face, the Fulham skipper was lucky only to receive a yellow for his actions right in front of the ref.
Tuncay was revelling in return to the starting 11 he was operating down the left he then switched to the right to where he burst forward put in a low cross to Jones who shot on the turn was deflected away. Stokes first goal came in the 23rd minute after a move started by Tuncay ended in a corner and Etheringtons deep delivery was met with a bullet header from Higginbotham at the far post. Long range efforts from Tuncay & Etherington nearly extended Stokes lead, Fulham responded by having their first period of pressure which Gera putting a shot straight into the arms of Begovic and Dempsey then saw his free kick deflected.
Stoke were well worth the lead at half time with Tuncay looking particularly lively.
Within seconds of the restart Jones almost doubled Stokes lead with shot across Schwarzer which ended up a foot wide of his right-hand post. Stoke continued to dominate in search of a second but escaped a scare in the 54th minute when Begovic dropped a waist high cross which Saw Dempsey volley over from only eight yards out.
Whelan saw a trademark 25 yard drive just whistle over the bar after Tuncay had rolled a short free-kick to him, the Turkish International then had a shot blocked. Fulham then hit back with Eddie Johnson & Dembele shooting from the edge of the area just wide.
Delap had been brought on to replace Diao in the 68th minute and he was called into action ten minutes later when Stoke won a throw. His delivery was inch perfect for Jones to head home his third goal in three games to wrap up victory for the Potters.
The games main talking point occurred in the 90th minute when Wilkinson fouled Dembele, who had to be carried off on a stretcher. Mark Hughes was infuriated by the challenge and very reluctantly shook Pulis at the final whistle. Hughes accused Wilkinson of an "absolutely ridiculous" challenge on Dembele in his after match interview.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Shawcross, Huth, Etherington, Diao (Delap 68), Whelan, Tuncay (Pugh 84), Jones, Fuller (Walters 75)
Subs: Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Soares, Tonge
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly (Halliche 84), Salcido, Hangeland, Hughes, Gera, Murphy, Etuhu, Davies (Johnson 57), Dempsey, Dembele (Greening 90)
Subs: Etheridge, Paintsil, Baird, Riise
Ref: Mark Halsey