The FA Cup
RochdaleRochdale1StokeStoke City4

Rochdale 1-4 Stoke City

By Gary RoseBBC Sport at Spotland
  • Bojan scores but goes off injured
  • Ireland, Moses & Walters also on scoresheet
  • Bennett nets consolation for Rochdale
  • Stoke to visit Blackburn in next round

Stoke City avoided being the victim of another FA Cup fourth-round upset with a comfortable victory at League One side Rochdale.

A stunning volley from Bojan Krkic gave the Premier League side an early lead before a neat finish from substitute Stephen Ireland and a driven Victor Moses goal put them in control.

Rochdale got on the scoresheet late on when Rhys Bennett struck from close range but Jon Walters made sure of victory by tapping home in stoppage time.

Stoke, losing finalists in 2011, will travel to Championship team Blackburn in the fifth round.

After several upsets in Saturday's FA Cup games, there was a sense of belief among the Rochdale supporters that their side could also claim a Premier League scalp.

FA Cup fifth-round draw
Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton WanderersArsenal v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Leicester CityWest Brom v West Ham
Bradford City v Sunderland or FulhamBlackburn Rovers v Stoke City
Derby County v ReadingPreston NE or Sheffield Utd v Cambridge Utd or Manchester Utd

They had seen off Championship side Nottingham Forest to secure their place in the fourth round for the second successive season and, keen to progress even further for the first time since 2003, they immediately went on the attack against Stoke.

An enterprising start saw them win an early corner after Peter Vincenti's shot was deflected behind but for all their early enthusiasm, there was little they could do about a moment of magic from Bojan inside the fourth minute.

The former Barcelona forward quickly adjusted to the unfamiliar surroundings of Spotland when he volleyed in a stunning opener after a clearing header fell to him on the edge of the area.

It was a brilliant finish, but was to be his only contribution as his game was ended just after the half-hour mark when he suffered an injury after chasing a ball into the box. He later left the ground on crutches and will have a scan.

Bojan's departure seemed to invigorate both Rochdale's players and fans and the hosts embarked on an impressive spell of dominance, coming closest to an equaliser when Matt Done poked a shot just wide after getting between two Stoke defenders.

Potters boss Mark Hughes became increasingly animated as the half wore on, and whatever was said in his half-time team talk clearly had the desired effect as the visitors scored twice in under 10 second-half minutes.

First, Ireland slotted in from close range after Moses had broken into the area to set up the chance, before Moses curled the ball into the top corner.

The home fans seemed resigned to defeat after those goals, but were given a smattering of hope when a late free-kick was stabbed in by Bennett.

However, Stoke wrapped things up when Walters struck with virtually the last kick of the game.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill:

"We tried to attack with intent and press the opposition but they are an excellent side. The game is marginal no matter where you stand in the pyramid. Fair play to Stoke, they were worthy winners in the end. The Bojan goal was a great piece of skill but it didn't frighten us.

"The lads have done the club credit."

Stoke manager Mark Hughes:

"We got the job done but credit to Rochdale. In the first half we found it difficult. We had a great goal from Bojan which helped us and in the second half we got to grips with them and turned it around.

"At the weekend a lot of teams fell by the wayside and we weren't going to let that happen to us. We waned to make headlines for the right reasons and thankfully Rochdale haven't made the news.

"Bojan's injury, it is too early to know, he's going for a scan and hopefully it will be good news. Since he came to the club he has done things like that, we see it in training every day.

"We look forward to going to Blackburn now. We'll take a huge following there."

Bojan, Stoke
Bojan opened the scoring before going off injured
Victor Moses
Victor Moses scored only his second goal of the season at Spotland
Rhys Bennett, Rochdale
Rhys Bennett scored a late consolation for Rochdale, who are fifth in League One
Mark Hughes & Keith Hill
Stoke manager Mark Hughes, left, will be up against his former club Blackburn in the next round

Line-ups

Rochdale

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Lillis
  • 2Rafferty
  • 5Eastham
  • 6Lancashire
  • 17Tanser
  • 3BennettBooked at 89mins
  • 7VincentiBooked at 28minsSubstituted forNoble-Lazarusat 58'minutes
  • 12Dawson
  • 28CampsSubstituted forAllenat 63'minutes
  • 40Henderson
  • 16DoneSubstituted forAndrewat 55'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Andrew
  • 11Noble-Lazarus
  • 21Musangu
  • 24Allen
  • 25Rose
  • 26Logan
  • 39Bunney

Stoke

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 22Butland
  • 2BardsleyBooked at 77mins
  • 17Shawcross
  • 26Wollscheid
  • 12WilsonBooked at 37mins
  • 15N'ZonziSubstituted forSidwellat 45'minutesBooked at 74mins
  • 6Whelan
  • 10Arnautovic
  • 27BojanBooked at 29minsSubstituted forIrelandat 32'minutes
  • 13MosesSubstituted forAdamat 75'minutes
  • 19Walters

Substitutes

  • 5Muniesa
  • 7Ireland
  • 16Adam
  • 20Cameron
  • 21Sidwell
  • 25Crouch
  • 29Sørensen
Referee:
Martin Atkinson
Attendance:
7,443

Match Stats

Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamStoke
Possession
Home52%
Away48%
Shots
Home10
Away9
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away2
Fouls
Home7
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Rochdale 1, Stoke City 4.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Rochdale 1, Stoke City 4.

  3. Goal!

    Goal! Rochdale 1, Stoke City 4. Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.

  4. Booking

    Rhys Bennett (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Rhys Bennett (Rochdale).

  6. Post update

    Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Wilson.

  8. Post update

    Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Marc Wilson (Stoke City).

  10. Post update

    Stephen Dawson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Steve Sidwell (Stoke City).

  12. Post update

    Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Ryan Shawcross.

  13. Goal!

    Goal! Rochdale 1, Stoke City 3. Rhys Bennett (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Oliver Lancashire following a set piece situation.

  14. Booking

    Phil Bardsley (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  15. Post update

    Scott Tanser (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Phil Bardsley (Stoke City).

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Reuben Noble-Lazarus (Rochdale) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Scott Tanser from a direct free kick.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Stoke City. Charlie Adam replaces Victor Moses.

  19. Booking

    Steve Sidwell (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  20. Post update

    Stephen Dawson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Monday 26th January 2015