Blues' FA Cup run continued with a slender 1-0 victory against Championship side Stoke at The Britannia Stadium on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Mikael Forssell's goal at the start of the second half put Blues into the quarter finals for the first time since 1984.

Blues also had Maik Taylor to thank for two world class saves that kept the visitors' goal in tact.

Boss Steve Bruce would see the result as the overriding factor today with the cup providing a pleasant distraction from the current relegation battle.

Bruce made three changes to the side defeated at West Ham.

First choice centre-halves Matthew Upson and Kenny Cunningham were unavailable with Alex Bruce partnering Martin Latka.

Back from suspension were Emile Heskey and Damien Johnson with the latter joining Nicky Butt, back in the side following his public apology, in midfield.

Heskey was flattened inside the first 30 seconds by Clint Hill as Stoke tried to put their early mark on the game.

Butt was next to be greeted with a shuddering challenge from Mamady Sidibe.

A minute later Blues' first chance fell to Heskey following good work by Forssell.

Unfortunately for Blues his low shot from the edge of the area was straight at keeper Steve Simonsen.

Blues continued the pressure with Jermaine Pennant crossing to Forssell but his shot was sliced clear for a corner.

In the 18th minute Stoke created their first chance of the game with a corner cleared to Luke Chadwick who twice had shots blocked.

Stoke were now making a game of it and Blues were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Alex Bruce blocked Peter Sweeney's cross with his arm.

The home side continued to press with Dave Brammer hitting a shot from distance straight at the keeper.

Junior was the first man in the book in the 23rd minute for a blatant trip on Pennant midway inside the Stoke half.

A couple of minutes later Butt caught Sanbegou Banguora with a late challenge that escaped the referee's attention.

The official did have to step in to calm the situation down as the Stoke player remonstrated with Butt.

In the 31st minute Stoke went even closer to breaking the deadlock when Hill nodded a corner back to Banguora whose volley bounced past the post, closely watched by Julian Gray.

Moments before half-time Carl Hoefkens hit the shot of the game with a dipping volley that Maik Taylor spectacularly tipped over the bar to deny him.

Half-Time: Stoke 0 Blues 0

Blues made the perfect start to the second half when Forssell gave them the lead just sixty seconds after the interval.

Pennant's corner was flicked on by Latka to Forssell who tapped in from a yard out.

In the 50th minute Latka was in the book for a poor challenge on Sidebe.

In the 53rd minute Taylor preserved Blues' slender lead with another tremendous save.

Brammer's corner found Michael Duberry whose header looked destined for the top corner before Taylor's fingertips intervened.

Blues' jitters continued when Sidibe raced clear down the right before hitting a dangerous cross that Latka flicked on for Banguora.

Fortunately for Blues, the Stoke striker could only aim his header straight at Taylor who once again was in the right position to save.

Bruce then made a tactical switch with Pennant moving back to his familiar role on the right and Johnson moving to the left.

There were valid claims for a penalty midway through the half when Forssell was bundled over by Hill six yards from goal but again referee Mike Dean was not forthcoming with a spot kick.

Despite having the lead, Blues were still struggling to put any authority on the game as Stoke harried them for every loose ball.

In the 70th minute Hans Sigurdssdon replaced Sweeney for Stoke.

Soon after Banguora hit a fierce volley from 25 yards that had Taylor scurrying across goal to safely catch.

In the 76th minute Steve Bruce made his first substitution bringing off goalscorer Forssell for Jiri Jarosik.

This also saw Butt drop into an even deeper role just in front of the back four.

In the 85th minute Heskey went close with a header from Pennant's corner.

A minute later a poor clearance from Gray dropped for Brammer who fired a fierce volley just wide of the post.

With the final whistle looming large, Blues fans made their voices heard with a booming rendition of 'Keep Right On'.

In the 86th minute Adam Rooney replaced Marlon Broomes.

Seconds later Stephen Clemence was booked for a foul on Duberry and then Hoefkens joined him in the referee's notebook.

Jamie Clapham replaced Pennant in the 88th minute as Bruce aimed to protect his lead.

Brammer was the last man to be cautioned deep into injury time for a tackle from behind on Jarosik.

Blues withstood any last attempts by Stoke to grab an equaliser in the four minutes of injury time.

The sell-out away following went wild with their celebrations when the final whistle called time on a nail-biting contest.

Blues: Maik Taylor, Mario Melchiot, Julian Gray, Martin Latka, Alex Bruce, Stephen Clemence, Damien Johnson, Nicky Butt, Jermaine Pennant (88, Jamie Clapham), Mikael Forssell (76, Jiri Jarosik), Emile Heskey.
Goals: Forssell(46)
Bookings: Latka (50) Clemence (86)

Stoke City: Steve Simonsen, Carl Hoefkens, Marlon Broomes (86, Adam Rooney), Michael Duberry, Clint Hill, Luke Chadwick, Dave Brammer, Junior, Peter Sweeney (70, Hans Sigurdsson), Sam Bangoura, Mamady Sidibe.
Bookings: Junior (23), Hoefkens (87), Brammer (90)

Attendance: 18,768