Overview
- Lamine Cisse scored in the 88th minute to give Stoke a 1-0 win over Coventry in the FA Cup third round at the bet365 Stadium.
- Frank Lampard made eight changes, handing starts to loan arrivals Romain Esse from Crystal Palace and Min-Hyeok Yang from Tottenham.
- Coventry improved after the break as Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni both struck the post, while goalkeeper Ben Wilson produced key first-half saves.
- Lampard said rotation was necessary after a heavy festive schedule and highlighted positive individual displays as focus returns to the league.
- The manager reported Brandon Thomas-Asante is very close to returning, Victor Torp is on track for Leicester, Kaine Kesler-Hayden faces a longer layoff, and he does not plan senior departures this month as Norman Bassette heads to Kaiserslautern on loan, reportedly with an option to buy.