Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Stoke City in FA Cup third round

Peter Crouch's equaliser meant Stoke avoided embarrassment in the FA Cup third round at League One Shrewsbury.

The ex-England striker volleyed in from close range four minutes after coming off the bench for Gary Rowett's side.

Ollie Norburn had put Shrewsbury ahead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Tom Edwards fouled Aaron Amadi-Holloway in the box.

Amadi-Holloway should have made it 2-0 after the break but headed over, before 37-year-old Crouch earned a replay.

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Rowett, who has been criticised by some Stoke supporters after eight wins in 26 Championship games this campaign, named a strong starting XI in Shropshire.

But they lacked any fluency against a Shrewsbury side who are struggling themselves in League One.

Potters winger Tom Ince had the best chance of a dour first half, seeing his shot well saved by Steve Arnold, before Edwards' clumsy foul saw referee David Webb point to the spot.

Norburn stepped up and smashed an excellent penalty into the middle of the goal.

Stoke pushed for a leveller in the second half and were frustrated - until veteran striker Crouch coolly finished Tyrese Campbell's deflected cross at the far post.

Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts:

"Obviously, I'm really pleased with the standard of the performance. We're setting standards which I want to maintain and we need to hit.

"We can't hit them every game but I want to hit them more games than not and we did it again today.

"The last little piece missing off that was to get through to the next round and we were so close.

"I think we had the better chances. We had a really good chance to go 2-0 up in the game. Our goalkeeper's had one save to make all game."

Stoke manager Gary Rowett:

"I felt it was always going to be a difficult game because of the last three games for us and, of course, the negativity surrounding that recent run of form.

"It's an away game in the FA Cup, which are never easy against a side only a division below us, and the pitch was a difficult pitch.

"Straight away, you could see it, it's not a criticism, but you knew that it was going to be a difficult pitch to move the ball quickly and kind of show the extra quality.

"Second half was a lot better without the final bit of quality again and then I felt the three substitutes made a big difference."