Fulham 0-1 Stoke: Peter Crouch puts Potters through in Capital One Cup

Stoke progressed to the Capital One Cup fourth round with a 1-0 victory at Fulham thanks to Peter Crouch's first goal of the season.

The 34-year-old striker finished off a neat move on 32 minutes when he shrugged off Richard Stearman and finished into the bottom corner from inside the box. 

Fulham rallied in the second half and created a host of late chances, with Lasse Vigen Christensen missing an open goal from some 40 yards out and defender Dan Burn hitting the crossbar in stoppage time.

Christensen and Ross McCormack also failed with good chances at the far post, while Peter Odemwingie should have made it 2-0 to the visitors late on when he broke clean through on goal but chipped his shot over the bar.

Fulham's strong finish was in complete contrast to a first half dominated by an energetic Stoke, with only Alexander Kacaniklic forcing Given into a save for the Whites.

Crouch was among the most vibrant for the Potters, and he started off the move for his goal by skilfully beating a man before playing a one-two with Odemwingie, and then holding off Stearman's challenge before firing in.

Fulham improved in the second half but McCormack's poor end product on the night was epitomised when he failed to put Pringle's cross into the back of the net on 76 minutes.

Odemwingie came close to doubling Stoke's lead with less than 10 minutes to go when he broke clean through on goal but chipped his effort over both keeper Joe Lewis, who made his full Fulham debut along with Sakira Mattila, and the crossbar.

Christensen's back-post volley forced Given into a quick reaction save but the Republic of Ireland keeper was in no man's land when Christensen controlled his clearance but launched a shot wide of the near post.

And Given was also stricken on the ground when Burn struck the woodwork at the death.