Football

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland highlights team effort after cup win over Chelsea

Stoke's goalkeeper Jack Butland has hailed the "incredible shift" put in by his team-mates after the Potters added to Chelsea's woes by knocking them out of the Capital One Cup.

Tuesday's fourth round tie at the Britannia Stadium saw the hosts triumph 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, with the 10th spot-kick, taken by Eden Hazard, superbly saved by England keeper Butland.


Stoke had played the whole of extra time with 10 men, Phil Bardsley having been sent off in the final moments of normal time just seconds after Chelsea substitute Loic Remy had cancelled out Jonathan Walters' spectacular 52nd-minute opener.


The Staffordshire outfit soaked up plenty of pressure from the visitors - the cup holders - both prior to and after the stoppage-time drama, with Butland making several fine stops before capping his display with the decisive intervention in the shoot-out.


And the 22-year-old told Stoke City Player: "There are not many better feelings than making a match-winning save.


"I felt it was a great penalty, hit with pace, but I managed to go the right way powerfully and get a hand to it.


"The fact it contributed to what was an incredible performance was even better. The lads put an incredible shift in to allow me to have that moment if you like."


While Chelsea had been eager for a positive result from the contest to boost their ailing season, Stoke also went into it seeking to bounce back from recent disappointment after Saturday's 2-0 loss to Watford had halted their Barclays Premier League winning run at three games.


Tuesday's effort made for an impressive reaction, and Butland has stressed the need for the momentum to be carried into the league trip to Newcastle on Saturday.


"Even when we had 11 on the field, I thought we were brilliant, and that's a performance we have to mirror at the weekend against Newcastle," he said.


Stoke boss Mark Hughes felt his players had demonstrated their character against Chelsea in tough circumstances.


He said: "To pick ourselves up from the blow (of the equaliser) was difficult enough and then we lost Phil almost immediately.


"We were down to 10 men and had walking wounded out there. Ryan Shawcross was playing his first game for several months, we had lost (fellow defender) Marc Muniesa in normal time (to injury) and we ended up with (striker) Mame Diouf playing at right-back.


"But we just had to stay in the game, and that is what we did. We stuck at it, showed great determination, fantastic qualities and got to penalties, a lottery that meant we always had a chance.


"All in all it was a great performance that showed the character in our dressing room."

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