Stoke City beat Stevenage 3-1 to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.

Alex Neil's side emerged victorious after a gripping contest that exploded into life with 20 minutes remaining.

In front of a crowd of 14,392, Stoke led 1-0 after Jacob Brown slotted home from close range to put the Potters ahead after only 180 seconds. The 24-year-old Scotland international making no mistake to fire home past Taye Ashby-Hammond after finding himself in space, with former Boro defender Ben Wilmot providing the assist.

Steve Evans' League Two promotion-chasing side battled for everything and remained in the game, thanks to fine first half saves from Ashby-Hammond to deny Bersant Celina and Will Smallbone.

With only 20 minutes remaining Stevenage's Jamie Reid found himself in space in the box to lift the ball over onrushing Stoke keeper Jack Bonham to make the score 1-1 – sending the 3,292 travelling fans behind the goal into raptures.

Stoke boss Alex Neil blasted his team after the game, saying it was a "crap goal to concede," adding "I've told my team that too."

With many from North Herts dreaming of emulating their heroics in the last round - when Stevenage came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 in arguably the greatest result in the club's history – Stoke went ahead again.

Potters captain Josh Laurent put the home side 2-1 up with a thunderbolt as the tie erupted into life with two goals in three minutes. The smell of cordite still hanging in the air from the pyro hurled from the away end in celebration only moments earlier.

Speaking after the match, Stoke boss Neil admitted: "At 1-1 you do start thinking about what happened at Aston Villa - but we settled ourselves down with Josh's goal."

Neil's side sealed the match when substitute Lewis Baker slotted home a penalty to make the final score 3-1 to Stoke.