Lamine Cisse’s late wonder goal fired Stoke City into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Championship rivals Coventry City at the Bet365 Stadium.
Frenchman Cisse fired a terrific half-volley from 25 yards with just two minutes remaining to separate the two Midlands outfits in what was a highly entertaining encounter, despite the lack of goals.
Both goalkeepers were busy throughout the course of the afternoon and both Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni struck the post for Championship leaders Coventry, whose mid-season wobble under Frank Lampard continues at the hands of former boss Mark Robins.
The first significant opportunity of the tie came in the opening 10 minutes and fell to Stoke winger Million Manhoef, but he dragged his effort wide of goal having been played in by Tomas Rigo.
Coventry enjoyed more of the ball in the early exchanges, but it was the hosts who created further defensive jitters when Cisse beat Sky Blues goalkeeper Ben Wilson to Manhoef’s searching free-kick but team-mate Divin Mubama’s eventual effort was blocked on the line.
Coventry, who posted a narrow 1-0 victory in the Potteries when the two sides met here in their league fixture back in November, struggled to carve out a notable first-half chance, besides recent loan acquisition Yang Min-hyeok curling an effort wide.
The Potters continued to appear the more threatening and ought to have taken the lead before half-time when Mubama, from inside the six-yard box and with the goal at his mercy, could only turn the ball over the crossbar.
Coventry’s performance levels markedly improved at the beginning of the second half, although they needed Wilson to be on his toes to beat away Rigo’s stinging drive at the other end, moments before Ben Wilmot nodded just wide of the far post.
Romain Esse, another transfer window addition, lifted the visiting fans behind the goal off their seats when he skilfully beat Maksym Talovierov and teed up Wright at the back post, but the American crashed his header against the woodwork.
The Sky Blues went close again to breaking the deadlock when Rudoni’s attempt from the edge of the penalty area clipped the leg of defender Ashley Phillips and struck the post.
But Stoke made their visitors pay for failing to take advantage of their growing dominance and sealed progress just as extra time loomed – Cisse, fouled in the build-up, re-joined the attack and planted his strike beyond the dive of Wilson to win it.
