Shrewsbury 1 Stoke City 1 - Report and pictures

Ollie Norburn’s penalty on the stroke of half-time put Sam Ricketts’ Shrewsbury into the driving seat in a tie many thought could bring an upset.

A defeat could see under-pressure Stoke boss Gary Rowett lose his job, just as Mark Hughes did at this stage last year for the Potters, but Rowett's late subs saved the day.

Town remain in the hat for Monday’s fourth round draw, a stage they have only made four times in the last three decades.

The home side will be disappointed they couldn’t see out a final 10 minutes after Stoke threatened Steve Arnold’s goal very little. Town, meanwhile, had super chances for a second through Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Josh Laurent.

Town’s first half penalty, deep into added time, only came around due to an unfortunate early injury to Lenell John-Lewis, who looked in extreme agony as he was stretchered off, sparking a fear of repeat of his previous bad knee injuries.

Former Liverpool hero Crouch, 37, who played in the 2006 final won by the Reds. had the final say with a cool finish showing all his experience.

But Shrewsbury will take the replay and hope to add more misery to the Potters across the county border as they prepare for a replay.

Analysis

As team news broke, it became apparent that Ricketts had lined Town up in the same system that worked so successfully at Sunderland.

With 10-goal top scorer Fejiri Okenanirhie suspended, the Town boss also withdrew Amadi-Holloway and in came John-Lewis and Alex Gilliead.

John-Lewis took his position on the left flank, as at the Stadium of Light, with Gilliead on the right.

Laurent was the unrecognised centre-forward, the role he performed tirelessly in the north east.

The headline team news for the visitors from a Shrewsbury point of view, with so much riding on the tie regards his Rowett’s Potters future, was that former Shrews favourite and academy graduate Ryan Woods missed out through illness.

There was also no place for big-hitters Joe Allen and Jack Butland, but the away XI was littered with top names with Premier League and international experience.

Stoke’s form was indifferent at best and, for an embarrassment of riches in the Championship, they were under-performing hugely in 14th.

A winless run of three, including no clean sheets in that run, had the locals sniffing blood in Staffordshire.

Town knew that chances to reach the FA Cup fourth round - something they have achieved just four times in the last 30 years.

The feel around the Meadow was that of a big game ahead of kick-off, Stoke’s sold out away attendance were pretty silent, either fearing the worse or not able to muster any love for the cup.

Shrewsbury players and fans were raring to get stuck in as the underdogs and started well with purpose and intent.

They hounded the Stoke players who were showing understandable jitters with such pressure circling around their management.

Lifelong Stoke fan James Bolton was on the ball moving forward in the early stages, as was Greg Docherty ahead of him as Town showed they were not afraid of landing blows on Stoke.

There was examples of Ricketts’ plan that worked so well at Sunderland repeating itself here. John-Lewis flicked headers on for the interested Gilliead and Laurent.

While, in the next breath, John-Lewis was back in his own left-back position preventing a Stoke corner.

But the game saw an unfortunate end to its impressive start on 13 minutes. John-Lewis, who had started well in his unfamiliar role, innocuous turned near the halfway line and went down in a heap, immediately signalling for assistance.

The forward spent more than a year out of the game with the second serious knee injury of his career before joining Town and fears that he was in serious trouble rose. He was stretchered off to warm applause in visible agony and emotion.

Ricketts was forced to shuffle his pack amid the air of disappointment for John-Lewis. Amadi-Holloway was sent for and he would rotate with Gilliead for the front role throughout the first half in Town’s fluid system.

The break had brought chants on from the away end. They let out a chorus of cheers including ‘Gary Rowett, your football is sh*t’ and ‘sacked in the morning’ barely 15 minutes in - very much making their feelings known.

The game ebbed and flowed. Shrewsbury saw more of the ball and worked some encouraging areas but struggled to force Adam Federici into anything that resembled a presentable chance.

Shrews certainly had their moments, Ollie Norburn shot tamely at Federici after a hospital Ashley Williams pass while Docherty curled a very well-positioned free-kick a few yards over the angle.

But, while Town looked more composed and up for the tie as Stoke passed the ball out of play on a handful of occasions, the Potters final third quality was filtering through.

Steve Arnold was called into action and at his best to deny £10million Stoke man Tom Ince. The winger charged on to a neat one-two, was too quick for Anthony Grant, but Arnold was equal to the finish, sending it just wide of the far post with Luke Waterfall covering.

Waterfall was a threat, as ever, in the opposite box, winning free-kick knockdowns that the Potters were unable to deal with.

Stoke were showing glimpses of their best and worst. Sam Clucas’ super crossfield switch was inch-perfect, but James McClean could not find a simple pass for Eric Pieters as it dribbled out of play. Both players looked on terribly with their heads to the floor.

McClean wasted a glaring chance to ironic cheers a few minutes before the break as he skied a free volley hopelessly just six yards out.

Then, deep into four minutes added time because of the injury, the Meadow erupted. Stoke hopelessly attempted to deal with a low Docherty free-kick, Gilliead helped it on, poked it through to Amadi-Holloway, who was clumsily brought down by Tom Edwards.

There were very few complaints by Potters players or the away fans packed behind the goal.

Up stepped Mr Reliable from the spot, Norburn - who has taken over duties from the injured Shaun Whalley - to hammer it low and to Fedirici’s left.

The midfielder politely suggested that the Stoke fans ‘shush’ with his finger as he and 90 per cent of the Meadow celebrated gleefully.

It was the perfect time to score a goal, in the fourth and final minute of time added on. Stoke trudged off knowing they probably had 45 minutes to save Rowett’s job.

Like at Sunderland, Town were superbly drilled and resolute to what Stoke had to throw at them, which was little for the most part.

Stoke spent the time probing but could not get through to Waterfall and Mat Sadler in the Town box, who were dealing with the few balls that did come their way.

Aside from strikes from distance, off target, Salop had precious little to fear and the angst and anger from the 1,500 visiting fans was increasing. The anti-Rowett chants were more regular and even louder.

If any side had the real chance to find the net is was the hosts. Amadi-Holloway, who was proving a handful in the air to Stoke with his hold-up play and combination, sent a gilt-edged opportunity over the bar via his forehead before the hour.

He was brilliantly found by Docherty, who had been released by Gilliead, the duo proving real outballs for Salop.

It was a massive chance for the powerful striker, with home fans hoping he would not be made to rue it.

Stoke were doing little to alarm Town fans. There was no accuracy or composure in their build-up and their only hopes were on a trip on Berahino near the penalty box, another one (as so McClean claimed) when he went into the box, and a handball appeal on Waterfall.

Amadi-Holloway was proving a thorn for the Potters, he nodded on for Laurent to curl to the top corner for Fedirici to save but a far clearer chance arrived with 15 minutes to play.

The big striker beat Williams and off went Laurent, away from his defender and on goal from the narrowest of left angles, but could not beat Fedirici with his toe poke.

Nobody could accuse Shrews of sitting in and not building on their lead.

Rowett rolled his Stoke dice for the final time, bringing on Crouch, Mame Biram Diouf and Tyrese Campbell.

The change worked a treat as far as Stoke were concerned. Campbell showed his trickery on the left, crossed for Diouf to help on to the wise old Crouch, who had peeled off at the back post and sent an accomplished volley beyond Arnold.

Stoke would look for a winner but could not muster much else of note. Ricketts sent on Omar Beckles for the injured Sadler after an aerial collision and Lee Angol for the subbed on Amadi-Holloway.

Town did not have to bolt down the hatches. They gave as good as they got late on in another breathless display of 100 per cent energy, commitment and work rate.

Key moments

13 - Sad few minutes as Lenell John-Lewis collapses in a heap and is stretchered off with what looked like a worrying knee injury.

28 - Big opening for Tom Ince after a one-two with Saido Berahino. From tight angle on right side of the box he forced a good low save from Steve Arnold.

37 - Greg Docherty bends a free-kick from the edge of the D a couple of feet over the top right angle.

43 - Another clear chance Stoke. Impressive right-back Tom Edwards crosses to find unmarked James McClean at back post but he sent a poor volleyed finish well wide.

45+3 - Shrewsbury penalty! Docherty low delivery not cleared, the visitors make a right hash of it and Alex Gilliead pokes through to Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who is clipped from Edwards.

45+4 - GOAL!!!!! Ollie Norburn smashes the penalty low, hard and true to Adam Fedirici’s left and celebrates in front of the away end.

56 - Stoke being forced to shoot from distance as both Peter Etebo and Benik Afobe send off target from outside the box.

58 - Key, key Shrewsbury chance. Gilliead and Docherty break down the right. The latter sends in a perfect cross for Amadi-Holloway who heads over unmarked from 10 yards.

60 - Tom Ince found as an Eric Pieters shot hits Luke Waterfall but he can only half-volley well over.

78 - Goal Stoke. They equalise through sub Peter Crouch who helps home a volley at the back post after good play from fellow sub Tyrese Campbell.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-5-1):

Arnold; Bolton, Waterfall, Sadler © (Beckles 82), Haynes; Gilliead, Docherty, Grant, Norburn, John-Lewis (Amadi-Holloway, 15, Angol, 85); Laurent.

Subs not used: Coleman (gk), Sears, Emmanuel, Eisa.

Stoke City (4-4-2):

Federici; Edwards, Martins Indi ©, Williams, Pieters; Ince, Etebo, Clucas, McClean (Campbell, 74); Afobe (Diouf, 74), Berahino (Crouch, 74).

Subs not used: Hougaard (gk), Martina, Sorensen, Souttar.

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 7,512 (1,525 Stoke fans)