Hartlepool United 0-3 Stoke City: Potters progress with easy FA Cup win
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Two own goals see Stoke ease past Hartlepool
Jacob Brown's neat finish and two own goals sent Stoke City through to the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Hartlepool United.
Euan Murray hammered the ball into the roof of his own net after Josh Tymon's incisive early run and low delivery.
Brown doubled the Championship side's lead, skipping past goalkeeper Ben Killip to roll in from a tight angle.
Rollin Menayese found his own net from Harry Clarke's cross as Stoke set up a home tie with Stevenage.
Jack Hamilton spurned a promising early chance for Hartlepool, misdirecting a header from a cross before Stoke scored their second.
The League Two strugglers had targeted a repeat of their upset at home to Stoke in the third round of the 2008-09 season, when the visitors suffered a 2-0 defeat as a Premier League side.
Hartlepool's hopes were hindered by their failure to produce a shot on target during a game in which the 2011 finalists' superior cutting edge told.
The confident victory ended the Potters' run of two successive defeats and ensured their place in the fourth round for a second successive season.
Hartlepool manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Tees:
"It was excellent for the lads to experience the requirements of Championship level. Stoke's passing and movement was crisp and sharp and, mentally, they were probably two yards in front of us - but we knew that.
"It was a great experience for some of the academy players to get on the pitch and be involved in the training and preparation.
"It was difficult because they're playing against players with experience, physicality and an extra yard of pace beyond what we're used to. It's a learning curve.
"Today was not our day. The cup dream's over. The realism now is to focus on the league. We've got new players coming into the building and there will be more. That's part of the progression we see."
Stoke manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:
"If we had written a script for today, that was how it would have happened. It was a good, professional performance.
"We knew how difficult these games can be and it was a free hit for Hartlepool. Once we got the first goal, it made it difficult for them; they had to come out and try to get the ball back.
"We were nice and patient and created numerous chances. We could probably have scored six. All in all, it's really pleasing."