Chelsea survived a first half scare at the Britannia Stadium to secure a place in the FA Cup sixth round.

Second half goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and substitute Jesper Gronkjaer put a spirited Stoke City to the sword.

Tony Pulis's side, 23rd in Division One, belied their lowly league standing and gave as good as they got for the first 52 minutes of a keenly contested battle.

But Hasselbaink's clinical finish and a rasping lash from Gronkjaer 14 minutes from time did for any chance of there being a major upset in the Potteries.

Pulis appealed for deafening support from Stoke's 26,000 fans and 100% effort from his players. He got both but saw his side suffer from a lack of composure in front of goal.

Two golden opportunities in the first 13 minutes went begging and they were made to pay spectacularly later on as Chelsea's true class came to the fore.

Pulis, however, would have seen enough to take home a number of positives as in Brynjar Gunnarsson they had one of the best players on the pitch.

But cup ties are won and lost in front of goal and that was where Chelsea eventually excelled. 

Once billed as the foreign legion who go AWOL away from the Bridge, they are more steely on the road these days. Their victories at Shrewsbury and now Stoke are proof of that. 

They are in ominous cup form too and have made the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal. Only Arsenal look capable of checking their run to the Millennium Stadium.

The game crackled along from the first whistle. Indeed it was Claudio Ranieri who was the happier manager to make the break all-square thanks to misses from O'Connor and Lewis Neal.

One flowing move in the 35th minute from left to right looked set to give Chris Greenacre a glorious chance to put Stoke ahead, but ref Rob Styles ended the danger when he blew his whistle for a push.

At the other end, goalkeeper Steve Banks did well to touch away Enrique de Lucas' drive, but Hasselbaink's clean and deadly strike got the better of him seven minutes after the break.

Stoke's gamble to give their all searching for an equaliser left them increasingly vulnerable at the back and substitute Gronkjaer made them pay on the counter 14 minutes from time.

But they gave their fans a day to remember against a true Premiership force, who now look a very good bet for a silverware in what is fast becoming a vintage FA Cup season. 

MAN OF THE MATCH: GRAEME LE SAUX (CHELSEA)
Top class display from a player who should not be forgotten when it comes to England.

Stoke: Banks, Thomas, Handyside, Shtanuk, Marcus Hall, Henry (Gudjonsson 56), O'Connor, Gunnarsson, Neal (Marteinsson 79), Iwelumo, Greenacre (Goodfellow 79).
Subs Not Used: Cutler, Wilson.
Booked: Marcus Hall.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Gallas, Le Saux, Stanic (Cole 87), Lampard, Petit (Huth 84), De Lucas (Gronkjaer 61), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: Evans, Zenden.

Att: 26,615

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).