Reaction from FA Cup fourth round at the bet365 Stadium
16:06, 15 Feb 2026Updated 16:06, 15 Feb 2026
Antonee Robinson of Fulham falls after clashing with Ashley Phillips of Stoke City
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Antonee Robinson of Fulham falls after clashing with Ashley Phillips of Stoke City
Stoke City are out of the FA Cup and kicking themselves after giving up a lead to lose against Fulham.
Bae Junho put Stoke ahead in the first-half with a drive from just inside the area and Lamine Cisse struck the post as they tried to give themselves a cushion.
But Kevin zipped in from the Fulham left via a one-two to draw things level and, just when extra-time seemed like it might be on the cards, the visitors found a winner – or rather they were gifted a winner.
Tommy Simkin’s pass to Tatsuki Seko was intercepted by Harrison Reed, who made easy work of wrapping things up.
This was a much-improved and more spirited performance from Stoke but they were cursing themselves by the end for the way it was settled.
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Mark Robins had made four changes to his starting XI, including missing Bosun Lawal through a hamstring injury. It wasn’t obvious from the teamsheet but it was also a change of shape, with Robins going to a back three for the first time as Stoke boss.
Maksym Talovierov sat in the middle of Ash Phillips and Ben Wilmot while Sorba Thomas and Eric Bocat were used at wing-back. Tomas Rigo and Tatsuki Seko sat in central midfield while Junho was at number 10, Lamine Cisse was floating and Milan Smit led the line.
Steven Nzonzi, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Cresswell dropped to the bench. Ben Pearson was also named among the subs but he has been under the weather while Ben Gibson, back from illness, was back in the squad.
Stoke had been under clear instruction to take on more shots and Thomas took that on board in the opening minutes when the ball fell nicely for him from a Issa Diop header, coming in from the right, about 25 yards out. He cracked it hard and low through a crowd of bodies so that keeper Benjamin Lecomte reacted late to save with his feet.
The Potters took the lead in the 19th minute. Rigo received a quare pass from Cisse and played it first time, diagonally, to release Bocat running down the wing. Bocat pulled it across for Junho, who took a touch and then launched into the ball to bury it past Lecomte.
That was the 22-year-old’s second goal of the season and he celebrated with a huge leap in front of the South Stand.
Harrison Reed fired over from the edge of the box at the other end before he had the ball nicked from his control by Junho with a superb sliding tackle from behind, mid-way inside the Fulham half. Rigo was free to advance and went for an ambitious long pot rather than slip in a teammate. It whacked straight into a defender.
Fulham started to look more dangerous, however, and from that break, Kevin forced the first excellent save from Simkin. The keeper leapt to his left to keep out a curler heading for the top corner.
Alex Iwobi might have done better with a near post header he nudged wide and Simkin was called on again in first half added time. Talovierov miskicked a back pass and inadvertently sent Kevin racing a way into a one-on-one. Simkin kept his cool and kept him out.
Stoke might have made it a two-goal advantage at the start of the second half when Rigo did superbly to nick the ball away from Iwobi and release Cisse to sprint into the Fulham half. Teammates were trying to catch him up but he kept going, with Diop backtracking, until he reached the edge of the area – and whipped a shot which Lecomte touched onto the post and out.
And instead it was soon all level. Kevin ran at Thomas on the Fulham left and played a one-two with Muniz before planning the return pass past Simkin from a tight angle. It was play just too quick for Stoke’s stand-in wing-back.
Simkin had to make another important save to keep out King, who had breezed into the area on the inside right past Wilmot. He made another to keep out Muniz after Kevin had wriggled free down the left.
Robins made his first chances with 12 minutes left, sending on Rak-Sakyi and Pearson in place of Smit and Rigo, who got a particularly appreciative reception.
Simkin had been Stoke’s best player for 84 minutes but then it was a moment of madness as he played a hospital pass into central midfield, where Seko had run towards him screaming for the ball – only to suddenly change his mind. Reed stole in and was immediately into a one-on-one and finish into the bottom corner. Fulham go through.
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Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium
Simkin: Two excellent saves in the first half to stop Kevin. Got everything else right up until he tried to pass to Seko and gift Fulham the win. 6
Thomas: A switch to right wing-back. Can still whip in a threatening cross but will need work on defensive side. 6
Bocat: Brilliant going forwards at times, including with the run that set up Junho to open scoring. Some dangerous ball watching defensively. 6
Phillips: Got drawn into a few battles and always a willing defender. 7
Talovierov: A strong presence in the middle of Stoke’s backline although he got away with a rick late in first half. 7
Wilmot: Benefitted from having Talovierov next to him. 6
Seko: A busy little performance but can’t demand the ball in that position with an opponent breathing down his neck. 6
Rigo: Brilliant first time pass to set up Bocat to lay on opener. Willing to take on a long shot. Crowd appreciated his performance. 8
Junho: Did very well to finish opening goal in the end with the kind of moment of rare ruthlessness he needs to show so much more. 8
Cisse: Great run at start of second half to have shot tipped onto post. Needed to help Bocat more 6
Smit: A little more involved that previous games but still has to find a way to really get himself in the thick of things. 6
Substitutes
Rak-Sakyi (for Smit, 78): A welcome flash of movement in the final third. 6
Pearson (for Rigo, 78): Couldn’t help Stoke take the tie into extra-time. 6
Cresswell (for Bocat, 89): Hardly time to make an impact. 6
Nzonzi (for Seko, 89): A late cameo on a rescue mission. 6
Manhoef (for Junho, 89): A little run into the final third without being able to deliver killer ball. 6
Not used: Fielding, Gibson, Otegbayo, Curley.
Referee: Josh Smith (Cambridgeshire) 4
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