Gary Rowett faces Stoke City sack after FA Cup disappointment at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Stoke City: Peter Crouch struck late on to force a replay against the League One side but Rowett's job remains on the line
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Your support makes all the difference.Peter Crouch came to the rescue of under-pressure Stoke manager Gary Rowett to give the Championship side a third-round replay against Shrewsbury Town.
Rowett, 44, could face the sack in the face of a fan revolt and no wins in four games, with David Moyes, Sam Allardyce, Carlos Carvalhal and Slavisa Jokanovic rumoured to be possibly replacing him.
But he appeared to earn a reprieve after 37-year-old Crouch ended Stoke’s 377-minute goal drought by scoring within four minutes of coming off the bench to cancel out Ollie Norburn’s 45th-minute penalty on 78.
Stoke were much improved in the second half but looked shaky at the back whenever Shrewsbury ventured forwards.
Rowett made six changes to the side that lost 2-0 at home to Bristol City.
Adam Federici, Tom Edwards, Erik Pieters, Peter Etebo, Sam Clucas and Saido Berahino replaced Jack Butland, Ryan Shawcross, Cuco Martina, Ryan Woods, Etebo Oghenekaro, and Joe Allen. Only Martina was in the 18.
Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts made two changes to the line-up that drew 0-0 with Fleetwood as Lenell John-Lewis and Alex Gilliead came in for Fejiri Okenabirhie and Aaron Amadi-Holloway.
Stoke created the first chance but it was an isolated opportunity for the Championship side, who were dominated by their League One opponents for most of the first half.
The Potters trailed at the interval to Ollie Norburn’s penalty seconds before half-time after Amadi-Holloway was tripped in the box.
It could have been so different, but James McClean wasted two chances, heading well over the bar from a promising position after a cross from Edwards in the eighth minute, then volleying over unmarked two minutes before the break.
Shrewsbury led despite suffering an early setback with an early exit for their striker John-Lewis.
The forward was stretchered off after appearing to twist his knee after just 15 minutes. He was replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.
Stoke fans were quick to voice their displeasure at Rowett, with chants in the first quarter of an hour of ‘Gary Rowett, your football is s***’ and ‘Sacked in the morning, you’re getting sacked in the morning’.
Rowett’s team did little to inspire the fans with a lacklustre display first 45 minutes.
They did create the best two chances of the half, however.
Tom Ince forced a diving save from goalkeeper Steve Arnold with a low, angled drive after a one-two with Saido Berahino in the 28th minute.
Then McClean made a right hash of the best opening to date, volleying well over when completely unmarked barely six yards out when Edwards’s cross reached him.
The visitors’ only other sight of goal was a raking 30-yarder from Ashley Williams that flew just wide.
The penalty came after some awful defending from Stoke, who were unable to clear their lines several times before Holloway was tripped.
Stoke came out seeking an equaliser following the restart and Berahino and Peter Etebo fired wide, while in between, Edwards’s deep cross was tipped over by Arnold.
But Shrewsbury should have doubled their lead in the 58th minute. Docherty sent over the perfect cross but the unmarked Holloway headed inches over the bar.
Angry Stoke fans then turned their frustrations on technical director Mark Cartwright, with chants of ‘Get out of our club’.
Then both sets of supporters started singing ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’, followed by Stoke followers chanting ‘We’re going to have a party when Rowett’s sacked’.
The Potters did have two weak penalty appeals waved aside by referee David Webb but struggled for ideas and to find a way through the Shrews defence.
Stoke made a triple substitution in the 74th minute in an effort to change things. Tyrese Campbell, Crouch and Mame Diouf were introduced for Berahino, Afobe and McClean.
But it was Shrewsbury who threatened, with a run and shot from Josh Laurent that was blocked by Federici.
Crouch quickly made his presence felt when he bundled in the equaliser on 78, stabbing home at the far post after Campbell helped on Ince’s cross for his 201st career goal and first in 19 minutes.
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