Higginbotham sends Potters through

Stoke booked their first FA Cup semi-final appearance for 39 years after bouncing back from a controversial West Ham equaliser to win 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.

The Potters' first-half dominance was reflected in centre-back Robert Huth's eighth goal of the season but Frederic Piquionne's clear handball was missed by referee Mike Jones as the striker went on to score.

When former Hammer Matt Etherington missed a penalty seconds into the second half it seemed it was not to be Stoke's day but Danny Higginbotham drilled a free-kick through the wall which goalkeeper Robert Green could only push onto a post and into the net.

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