Stoke looked comfortable after an unmarked Brown had time to control the ball at the far post and fire home after Bersant Celina's third-minute corner had been flicked on by Ben Wilmot. They almost doubled their lead before the interval when ex-Stevenage defender Wilmot's header from another Celina corner was cleared off the line by Max Clark, and when keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond produced a fine save to deny Will Smallbone.
Jacob Brown (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jonathan Tomkinson (Stevenage). Foul by Jacob Brown (Stoke City). Carl Piergianni (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Jacob Brown (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Carl Piergianni (Stevenage). Delay over.
However, Laurent netted in emphatic fashion three minutes later and Stevenage's hopes of another comeback were crushed by the penalty decision. Line-upsStokeFormation 4-3-313Bonham20SterlingSubstituted forHoeverat 77'minutes32TaylorSubstituted forJagielkaat 17'minutes16Wilmot14Tymon15Thompson28Laurent18SmallboneBooked at 50minsSubstituted forBakerat 62'minutes10CampbellSubstituted forFoxat 78'minutes9Brown23CelinaSubstitutes3Fox6Jagielka8Baker17Hoever22Kilkenny29Wright-Phillips33Macari34Fielding37TezgelStevenageFormation 5-3-212Ashby-Hammond2Wildin6Sweeney15VancootenSubstituted forTaylorat 43'minutes5Piergianni3ClarkSubstituted forTomkinsonat 45'minutes11RobertsSubstituted forCampbellat 18'minutes4Reeves17GilbeySubstituted forSmithat 56'minutes32RoseSubstituted forNorrisat 56'minutes19ReidSubstitutes1Chapman8Taylor9Norris10Campbell14Smith18Bostwick22TomkinsonReferee:David WebbAttendance:14, 392Live TextMatch ends, Stoke City 3, Stevenage 1.
Stoke City vs Stevenage » Odds, Picks & Predictions + Stats
Second Half ends, Stoke City 3, Stevenage 1. Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Jack Bonham. Attempt saved. Dan Sweeney (Stevenage) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke Norris. Attempt missed. Luke Norris (Stevenage) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jake Reeves with a cross following a corner. Conceded by Morgan Fox. Attempt blocked. Luke Norris (Stevenage) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Reid.
Stevenage rallied in the second half and Reid forced a save from keeper Jack Bonham shortly before the visitors appealed in vain for a penalty when the ball struck Laurent's arm. The underdogs levelled when Reid, who also equalised in the third-round triumph at Villa, took advantage of some slack Stoke defending. Wilmot failed to deal with Ashby-Hammond's goal-kick and was then unable to prevent the ball crossing the line after Reid had nipped in and lobbed Bonham.
Stoke City vs Stevenage preview, prediction & live telecast
Stoke City vs Stevenage live score, H2H and lineups - Sofascore
Stoke beat Stevenage to reach FA Cup fifth roundLast updated on 56 minutes ago. From the section FA CupJosh Laurent's brilliant goal helped Stoke City end Stevenage's FA Cup run and progress to the fifth round. The League Two side, who knocked out Aston Villa, hit back through Jamie Reid's equaliser after Jacob Brown had given Stoke an early lead. But Laurent put the Championship team back in front when he cut in from the right and sent an unstoppable left-footed strike into the far corner. Lewis Baker sealed Stoke's victory with a penalty. The spot-kick was controversially awarded by referee David Webb after what seemed a perfectly fair challenge on Brown by Jonathan Tomkinson.
Stoke City - Stevenage Live - The Emirates FA Cup - Eurosport