Strong Stoke side faces Crawley in FA Cup

Stoke named a strong-looking side for today’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Crawley.

Peter Crouch and Cameron Jerome started in attack for the Potters, who made six changes to the side that suffered a Europa League defeat to Valencia on Thursday.

The hosts, the lowest ranked side left in the competition, handed on-loan Watford goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin his debut at Broadfield Stadium and was one of two alterations to the side that lost 3-0 to Swindon, with the cup-tied Billy Clarke replaced by Josh Simpson.

Crawley Town: Gilmartin, Howell, Mills, Davis, Hunt, Torres, Bulman, McFadzean, Simpson, Barnett, Watt.

Subs: Kuipers, Akpan, Wilson, Akinde, Wassmer, Neilson, Wickham.

Stoke: Begovic, Shotton, Collins, Shawcross, Upson, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Walters, Crouch, Jerome.

Subs: Nash, Jones, Fuller, Wilson, Diao, Etherington, Wilkinson.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)