Cheltenham 2-3 Stoke

Stoke proved too strong for Cheltenham in the second round of the Carling Cup.

The visitors made 10 changes from their Premier League game last Saturday and Glenn Whelan's free-kick put them ahead after 51 minutes.

Richard Cresswell raced clear to slot in Stoke's second before Ashley Vincent drilled in a shot for Cheltenham.

But Jon Parkin fired in to add to Stoke's lead, while Alex Russell's rasping strike earned Cheltenham a late consolation goal seconds from the end.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We played a team to win the game, we didn't come here to mess around and I think we deserved to win."

"It was an entertaining game. We created lots of chances and the two shots they had on target they scored."

"Cheltenham obviously wanted to have a go at a Premier League side and it was never going to be a walk in the park."

Cheltenham: Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Townsend, Duff (Gallinagh 61), Wright, Armstrong, Lindegaard, Ben Gill (Caines 79), Russell, Vincent (Ledgister 88), Connor.
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Ridley, Watkins, Emery.

Booked: Armstrong.

Goals: Vincent 57, Russell 90.

Stoke: Simonsen, Wilkinson (Shotton 90), Buxton, Shawcross, Dickinson (Demar Phillips 79), Cresswell, Diao (Matteo 75), Whelan, Pugh, Parkin, Pericard.
Subs Not Used: De Laet, Jimmy Phillips, Wedderburn.

Booked: Pericard.

Goals: Whelan 51, Cresswell 54, Parkin 78.

Att: 3,600

Ref: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire).