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Stoke City will travel to Hartlepool for their third round FA Cup game in a somber mood having slipped into the relegation zone in the Premiership. Catch all the live FA Cup action in the exclusive member’s area on Live Sport Network.

Hartlepool have done well to progress to the third round this season after overcoming a tough challenge from Fleetwood Town. The 2-3 win for Hartlepool came courtesy two goals from Michael Mackay and another from Joel Porter. For Fleetwood, Andy Bell and Adam Warlow grabbed the two goals.

 

 

The win to make the third round is one better than last season for Pools when they sank to a 2-0 loss to Hereford Town. Goals from McCombe and Robinson had sunk them in that game. Hartlepool caretaker boss Chris Turner will hope his side can turn in a resilient performance in front of home fans.

Meanwhile Stoke City are battling in the relegation zone in the premiership and may not pay much attention to the Cup competition thus allowing Hartlepool a chance to progress further. Stoke boss Tony Pulis will have his hands full in dealing with the internal crisis which led to Ricardo Fuller striking skipper Andy Griffin in their game against West Ham last week.

 

 

Last season Stoke had held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw in the third round, but lost the replay at St James' Park by a 4-1 margin with Michael Owen, Cacapa, James Milner and Damien Duff scoring for the Magpies. Stoke's consolation goal was scored late in the game by Lawrence. In this game Andy Griffin, Salif Diao, Leon Cort and Dave Kitson continue to be long-term absentees, while Fuller is also a doubtful starter with the club having vowed to tackle his indiscipline severely.

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