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Stoke City vs Rotherham United. Carabao Cup Fourth Round.

Bet365 StadiumAttendance15,458.

Potters ease past Robins

Image: Rhodes keeps close to Cresswell

Stoke City booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after seeing off Rotherham.

Whelan and Pugh strike to deny brave Rotherham

Stoke City booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after seeing off Rotherham at the Britannia Stadium. The League Two side were behind in the 22nd minute when Glen Whelan sent a free-kick into the right-hand corner of the net past Andy Warrington. Any hopes Mark Robins' side harboured of getting back into the contest were extinguished when Danny Pugh converted expertly just before the hour mark. Despite an impressive display from Rotherham against the Premier League outfit it was not their night as Stoke ensured they would be in the draw for the quarter-finals. Stoke created the first opening of the match with Whelan, who orchestrated much of what was good about City, driving just over the crossbar from 20 yards. Soon after Whelan curled a free kick into the box, but Shawcross somehow managed to miss from two yards out.

Wastefulness

The wastefulness continued when Dave Kitson put Vincent Pericard clean through only for the Cameroon striker to volley wildly over. But after 20 minutes Stoke were ahead. Alex Rhodes' high kick on Pugh resulted in a free kick that Whelan lifted over the wall and past Andy Warrington. Rotherham went close to an equaliser with a Nick Fenton header on the far post that just cleared Steve Simonsen's crossbar. But Stoke continued to press and after 32 minutes it took a flying save from the veteran Warrington to turn a fine effort from Richard Cresswell onto a post and behind. Stoke went in search of a quick goal to settle the match after the break and it almost arrived when Pericard saw a low drive flash inches wide of the far post. Rotherham continued to show signs of life and after 52 minutes only a flying save from Simonsen stopped a fine hook from Reid as his effort curled towards the far post.
Fired over
Then Drewe Broughton fired over after being set-up by a clever turn and pass by Reid in the box. Stoke sent on Amdy Faye for Olofinjana after 58 minutes and a minute later the hosts were two goals ahead. Kitson's pass sent Pugh racing into the box and he made no mistake of the chance to guide his low shot past Warrington. Rotherham replaced Danny Harrison with Ryan Taylor while Stoke sent on Ricardo Fuller for Pericard with 15 minutes left. Kitson was deprived of his first goal for the club by a linesman's flag after 78 minutes after he tapped home when Warrington spilled a Whelan drive. Reid was then booked for a late tackle on Pugh with eight minutes left, but by then Stoke were coasting into the next round.

Stoke City Team Statistics Rotherham United
2 Goals 0
1 1st Half Goals 0
7 Shots on Target 2
10 Shots off Target 5
1 Blocked Shots 2
1 Corners 5
15 Fouls 12
2 Offsides 0
0 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
50.7 Possession 49.3

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