The Premier League outfit took the lead after 15 minutes with Peter Crouch, making a rare start for the Potters, tapping home after Joselu laid the ball off to him in the six-yard box. Luke McCullough was the instigator, driving forward and supplying Nathan Tyson who had his first attempt saved but then pounced on the rebound to score. Crouch’s 15th-minute opener had been cancelled out 10 minutes later by Nathan Tyson, and after Walters struck Rovers went agonisingly close to levelling again late on through Andy Butler and Tyson again. But moments later the former England striker’s blushes were spared as Walters crashed home a stunning effort from around 25 yards to put the Premier League side back in front.
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Walters wonder strike sends Stoke through at Doncaster Jonathan Walters’ second-half thunderbolt saw Stoke book their place in the FA Cup fourth round after surviving a torrid afternoon at League One Doncaster.
Rovers came close to an equaliser when Williams’s header bounced back off the crossbar. “I don’t think many people left before the end”.
“But we will take any fortune that comes our way”.
Hughes cut a relieved figure after his side’s close shave, admitting: “You always understand the home side are going to have a go and try to get back to level and it turned into a good Cup tie”.
“I thought Doncaster caused us problems and it has taken two good quality goals from us to take the tie away from them”.
Hughes added: “This was the only opportunity between now and mid-March where we could rest some key players but I still had nine full internationals out there which showed our strength in depth”. “There is no real pressure on us so we can go into the match aiming to pull off a surprise”.
Doncaster went on to finish the half strongly, but also escaped a couple of times when Mame Biram Diouf showed indecision in front of goal.
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Rovers again responded well to going behind and came within inches of an equaliser when a half cleared corner reached Alcock who smashed a shot just wide.
