Hartlepool send Stoke crashing out of FA Cup

Stoke City crashed out of the FA Cup with an embarrassing 2-0 third round defeat against League One Hartlepool on Saturday.

City boss Tony Pulis rested seven first-team regulars and paid the price as managerless Hartlepool claimed a Premier League scalp thanks to second half goals from Michael Nelson and David Foley at Victoria Park.

Caretaker manager Chris Turner has been filling in for the recently sacked Danny Wilson at Hartlepool and he masterminded the first shock of the third round in Saturday's early match.

Pulis's decision to leave out so many stars reflected his desire for Premier League survival ahead of FA Cup glory, but the damage to Stoke's morale will hardly help their survival hopes.

Stoke had started brightly and Ibrahima Sonko hit a post with a header from Glenn Whelan's second-minute cross.

But Hartlepool gradually worked their way into the match and Gary Liddle forced a solid block by Sonko before Ben Clark smashed the rebound well wide.

Rory Delap's long throws have caused problems for a host of Premier League defences this season and the Stoke midfielder launched another missile to the near post, this time from the right, and Ryan Shawcross sent a header wide.

Michael Tonge had his first chance to go for goal with 14 minutes of the half remaining when he cut inside and drilled in a low right-foot shot which goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett saved well at his near post.

Hartlepool pressed even harder for an opener at the start of the second half and got the lucky break that often turns cup ties in the 49th-minute.

Referee Mark Halsey awarded a free-kick after Andrew Davies fouled Joel Porter tangled on the right wing.

Pulis was furious with Halsey's decision and his anger was compounded when Matty Robson's free-kick was met at the far post by Nelson, whose thumping header flashed past Steve Simonsen.

It could have been worse for the top-flight side as Hartlepool went for broke, Robson firing another cross just over Jones' head at the far post.

Pulis made a double change a minute later when he sent on Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson but it was Hartlepool who got the crucial next goal in the 76th minute.

Foley's pace was proving a problem to Stoke as they committed men to attack, and he hit the target in spectacular style with 14 minutes remaining when he lashed an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the top corner.

Delap fired just wide at the other end seconds later and had an 81st-minute header saved from close range, but there was no way back for Stoke.