The Potters secured a place in the quarter-finals for a second successive season with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium which came courtesy of three headers in the opening period. John Carew netted in the 14th minute from Rory Delap's long throw with an effort that Seagulls goalkeeper Peter Brezovan flapped a glove at but could not prevent from going in. Jon Walters then sent Marc Wilson's delivery across Brezovan and in eight minutes later before flicking on Jermaine Pennant's corner to tee up Ryan Shawcross just before the break. That proved to be enough, with Brighton improving after the restart but unable to reduce the deficit. Pulis was pleased to his players did not take their lower-league opponents lightly, but thought the lead could have been bigger given their first-half superiority. "The attitude of the players was absolutely fantastic," Pulis said. "We looked fresh and ready to go to work and the disappointing thing in the first half was that it was only 3-0. Jon Walters could have scored a hat-trick today. "But the second goal was great and the two others, people will talk about set-plays, but they were well executed. We're just delighted to be in the next round." Brighton manager Gus Poyet admitted his side had struggled to handle the Barclays Premier League outfit. "Maybe if three or four players from Stoke had relaxed and we had been spot-on and perfect, then maybe we would have had a chance," Poyet said. "But we were poor technically in the first half and couldn't cope with the pressing. "We were a little bit nervous and on top of that, they turned up and did what they do best very well, so we had no chance." Asked if he felt Brezovan could have done better for Stoke's goals, Poyet said: "For sure, but Peter knew more than anyone that coming here, you have to be perfect. "I invite all of you to get on the gloves, get in there and try to deal with their crosses and you will see how difficult it is! "He has been playing in the FA Cup the whole time, and the thing he does best is coming for crosses. "This is his strength - but to a level, I suppose. I have nothing to blame Peter for." Meanwhile, Pulis indicated that Matthew Etherington should be available for Wednesday's trip to Arsenal despite the winger having to be substituted in the first half looking in some discomfort. Etherington was back in the Potters starting line-up after missing the defeat at Birmingham last weekend due to a hamstring complaint, and Pulis revealed the 29-year-old was experiencing problems because of an issue with his jaw that Stoke's medical staff were working on. "He's okay - it's more his jaw-line which is affecting his back than anything else," the manager said. "He has got a defect in his jaw and we have got a specialist to do a jaw brace for him. "We are hoping the alignment will be sorted out and Matty will be all right from then on." He continued: "His back will stiffen up sometimes because the alignment in his spine is just a little bit over, and apparently it has all come from his jaw-line. It amazes me. "I think a lot of people now wear them (a brace) and I think a lot of clubs get people tested. "The first thing our medical staff do is look at the back. It is so important - they look to make sure the alignment is right because that can affect hamstrings, calf muscles, cramping in the back. "Being old-fashioned, it amazes me, but if it works, lets get it done."
