Match ends, Stoke City 1, Gillingham 0.
Stoke advanced into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a narrow win over League One Gillingham.
Tyrese Campbell scored the decisive goal, placing a low effort into the bottom left corner after latching on to Jordan Thompson's superb pass.
The hosts more than merited their win, dominating from start to finish as Northern Ireland midfielder Thompson pulled the strings.
Stoke travel to Bristol City or Aston Villa in the fourth round.
All ties are due to take place in the week commencing 28 September.
With Jack Butland again absent for Stoke, manager Michael O'Neill named nine of the team that started their second-round win at Wolves.
And it proved to be a comfortable evening for the Potters, who on another occasion may have scored more.
Defender Harry Souttar had a close-range effort brilliantly saved by the Gills' 18-year-old goalkeeper Joe Walsh prior to Campbell's goal.
Josh Tymon's blistering shot from the edge of the box hit the underside of the Gillingham bar and Jacob Brown had a late effort ruled out.
'We dominated from start to finish' - what they said
Stoke manager Michael O'Neill: "We dominated the game from start to finish, that's a very pleasing performance.
"A lot of our play was excellent, but we need to be better in the final third. My ears are bleeding after that [match] though their bench were screaming for everything.
"But we dominated the game and clearly deserved to win it. It's early in the season, but tonight was a positive for a lot of the players. It was great ball from Jordan Thompson to pick Tyrese [Campbell] out. He is at his best in that situation and showed a cool head."
Gillingham manager Steve Evans: "We did really well in the first half in terms of organisation and shape, especially as we came here with limited resources.
"It was hard for us, but we showed real discipline. However, we gave a poor goal away. We had to stay in the cup tie for 75-80 minutes, but we just never made that cutting edge chance.
"We said we're going to go young this season and supporters have said they're heard that before from managers.
"But we're going young with quality. You look at that back four tonight and see our quality. They're kids, it's like a kindergarten when I walk into the changing room."
Line-ups
Stoke
Formation 3-4-3
- 16Davies
- 37Collins
- 36Souttar
- 3Fox
- 14Smith
- 20Oakley-Boothe
- 34Thompson
- 11McCleanBooked at 90mins
- 26CampbellSubstituted forFletcherat 67'minutes
- 19GregorySubstituted forBrownat 78'minutes
- 35Tymon
Substitutes
- 6Batth
- 7Ince
- 18Brown
- 21Fletcher
- 24Cousins
- 25Powell
- 40Nna Noukeu
Gillingham
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Walsh
- 14McKenzie
- 26MaghomaBooked at 89mins
- 6Medley
- 3Ogilvie
- 7WillockSubstituted forMacDonaldat 38'minutes
- 23Woods
- 20RobertsonSubstituted forJacksonat 72'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10Graham
- 15Akinde
- 11CoyleSubstituted forOliverat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Jackson
- 5Tucker
- 16MacDonald
- 18Mellis
- 19Oliver
- Referee:
- David Webb
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home77%
- Away23%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away0
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Gillingham 0.
Post update
Foul by Tommy Smith (Stoke City).
Post update
Alexander MacDonald (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Henry Woods.
Post update
Steven Fletcher (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Henry Woods (Gillingham).
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Robbie McKenzie.
Post update
Jacob Brown (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Zech Medley (Gillingham).
Post update
Jordan Thompson (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Vadaine Oliver (Gillingham).
Booking
Ryan Jackson (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
James McClean (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Christian Maghoma (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Jacob Brown (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Connor Ogilvie (Gillingham).
Post update
Foul by Jacob Brown (Stoke City).
Post update
Connor Ogilvie (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Zech Medley.
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