Jones feels the pressure as sorry Stoke pay the penalty at Crawley
Stoke manager Nathan Jones admitted his much-changed side were just not good enough after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup to League Two Crawley.
The visitors were knocked out 5-3 on penalties after the tie had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Sam Vokes had given Stoke the lead midway through the first-half, but Nathan Ferguson replied before the interval and Stoke were forced to play the final 30 minutes with 10 men after Nathan Collins received a straight red card.
The game then went to a shootout, with Vokes crashing Stoke’s first effort against the bar, with all five Crawley takers scoring to ensure they went through.
Welshman Jones, under pressure after failing to win any of the opening eight league games, made 10 changes and said he took “full responsibility” for the defeat.
He said: “It was as bad a 45 minutes as I’ve had as a manager, and then the red card killed us. The first 45 minutes was lacklustre, there was no desire and a few lacked match sharpness. Crawley were good on the night, but I’m very disappointed.”
Stoke broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when Vokes followed up after Liam Lindsay’s shot was blocked. Reece Grego-cox twice went close for Crawley, before the hosts levelled through Ferguson, who fired home David Sesay’s cross.
The Potters were reduced to 10 men when Collins received a straight red for a late tackle on Panutche Camara.
Bez Lubala had a shot saved by Adam Federici and Ollie Palmer drove a fierce shot inches over, before Crawley sealed a dramatic victory on penalties.
Crawley head coach Gabriele Cioffi praised his team’s never-say-die attitude after they booked a place in the last 16 for the first time.
The 44-year-old said: “We never have the feeling of giving up; it is in our DNA to be strong. I trust the boys. I know we have good penalty takers. I have trusted them since day one of the season.
“We have started on a path and that is to work – we are on the right track. We are a side that will score goals and we have the right attitude and mentality. This was a great victory for the club and myself.”
Crawley (4-1-4-1)
Luyambula; Sesay, Doherty, Tunnicliffe, Dallison; Bulman (Nathaniel-george 90); Grego-cox, Lubala, Camara (Allarakhia 90), Ferguson; Palmer. Subs Bloomfield, Morris (g), Payne, Sendles-white, Young. Booked Bulman, Ferguson, Grego-cox, Camara.
Stoke (3-4-3) Federici; Collins, Batth, Lindsay (Etebo 46); Smith, Ward, Cousins, Woods; Campbell (Duffy 46), Hogan (Carter-vickers 64), Vokes. Subs Davies (g), Mcjannett, Powell, Sorensen. Booked Batth. Sent off Collins.
Referee Kevin Johnson.