Harrison Reed’s opportunistic end carried Fulham into the fifth spherical of the FA Cup as they got here from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 on the bet365 Stadium.
The Potters haven’t received a recreation since seeing off Coventry within the earlier spherical on January 10, with three losses and three defeats in all competitions.
Nonetheless, they began nicely towards Marco Silva’s facet, who made 10 modifications from their midweek defeat to Manchester Metropolis.
South Korea midfielder Jun-Ho Bae capped a superb transfer by placing Mark Robins’ crew forward after 19 minutes, however they have been overpowered as their Premier League opponents settled after the interval.
Brazilian winger Kevin received his reward for a full of life efficiency within the fifty fifth minute, sending a first-time effort into the underside nook after chopping in from the left, and a self-inflicted error value the hosts pricey with six minutes remaining.
Underneath siege for lengthy intervals, goalkeeper Tommy Simkin tried a brief go out of his penalty space to Tatsuki Seko, who was caught daydreaming by Reed, Fulham’s captain for the day.
He collected the ball as Seko tumbled to the turf, completed calmly and sealed a spot within the subsequent spherical for the west London facet, who’ve reached the quarter-finals in two of the final three seasons.
Jun-Ho Bae scored a thunderous opener for Stoke
Each side had early sights of aim, Stoke’s Ashley Phillips lacking on the again publish after assembly a floated free-kick and Reed capturing over from the sting of the field after Rodrigo Muniz did nicely to maintain the assault alive.
For Fulham, American full-back Antonee Robinson was a full of life starter down the left however the raft of modifications made for some careless passing that threatened to ask bother. The house facet drew the primary save, cup common Benjamin Lecomte blocking together with his toes after Sorba Thomas rifled a low shot via a crowd of our bodies.
The opener duly arrived and it was expertly labored, Tomas Rigo feeding Eric Bocat, who noticed Bae’s run and located him with the cross. After one contact to tee himself up, the No 10 smashed the ball previous Lecomte at tempo for a deserved lead.
Fulham have been stung into motion and twice got here shut courtesy of Kevin, whose curling effort would have nestled within the high nook had Simkin not had the dive to match. When he turned creator, standing up a cross for Alex Iwobi to run on to, the skilled midfielder headed extensive by a yard with time and house to do higher.
The lead held till half-time regardless of Kevin’s rising affect, which noticed him clear the crossbar after Oscar Bobb’s lay-off and draw a robust, low save from Timkin in added time.
Stoke have been on the again foot after half-time however turned defence into assault when Rigo’s courageous intervention set Lamine Cisse working. He raced into house and despatched a curling strike that glanced the publish after a fingertip save from Lecomte.
With hazard averted, Fulham levelled with their subsequent transfer. It was no shock to see Kevin’s title up in lights, feeding a low ball in from the flank then lashing into the underside nook because it deflected again to him.
Fulham have been a special crew for the following 20 minutes, pouring ahead in waves as Stoke battled to clear their strains with Kevin, Bobb and Iwobi swarming the field.
After an extended collection of clearances, the resistance buckled with a expensive lapse in focus. Seko failed to reply to Simkin’s brief go and Reed snuck in to steal possession and settle the tie with a clear low strike.
