Stoke City boss Mark Hughes admits they were fortunate for their 2-1 win at FA Cup opponents Doncaster Rovers.

Jonathan Walters' stunning second-half effort proved enough for the Potters after Rovers striker Nathan Tyson had cancelled out Peter Crouch's early effort for the visitors.

Hughes said: "We rode our luck with a few chances Doncaster had and on another day they could have fallen more kindly for them and might still have been in the hat.

"But we will take any fortune that comes our way. You always understand when you're the away side the home side will have a go to get back in the game and it was a good cup tie.

"I thought Doncaster caused us problems and it has taken two good quality goals from us to take the tie away from them."

Hughes said his decision to make nine changes was out of necessity due to his side's busy schedule but he denied his reshuffle disrespected the competition.

Hughes added: "This was the only opportunity between now and mid-March where we could rest some key players but I still had nine full internationals out there which showed our strength in depth."