Stoke boss Mark Robins: We’re in the hat – that’s as much as I can say really

Mark Robins was a relieved man after his much-changed Stoke side progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Walsall.

Goalkeeper Jack Bonham was the hero as the Championship club prevailed after being held to a goalless draw in normal time.

Bonham kept out Jonny Stuttle’s spot-kick before stepping up and firing home the winning penalty for the hosts.

And Stoke boss Robins said: “We’re in the hat for the next round and that’s the most important thing I think.

“We’re through and that’s as much as I can say really.

“We’ve got to take what we can from the game.

“The lads who haven’t got the minutes got that under their belts.

“We’ve got players who are settling in. But they’ll improve. The changes we made it wasn’t going to be a flowing game and it was what it was.

“You can’t just turn up. Walsall are a good team. Thankfully we’ve done just enough to get through with Jack scoring that penalty and saving their last one.”

Walsall boss Mat Sadler was proud of his League Two side.

“I thought we were so, so good tonight. I have to be so proud of our lads,” he said.

“I think there’s been loads of these times we’ve had. I think back to Birmingham, Exeter and Huddersfield and many more in the last two years. Tonight was another one of those.

“I can be so proud of the players after that performance and the shift the players put in.”