Stoke City chairman Peter Coates calms fears following FA Cup exit

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has called for calm in the wake of the club's exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Some Premier League teams were criticised for fielding weakened outfits for the third round, but the Potters saw their strong side beaten 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

"I'm hugely disappointed and I'm sure supporters are too, but there will be no-one more disappointed than the manager himself," said Coates, according to the Stoke Sentinel.

"He chose a team he thought would be good enough against Wolves on the day, but we had a very poor first half and you have to give Wolves credit.

"Second half we played much better, but unfortunately their goalkeeper had a tremendous game and we didn't have the luck we needed in the circumstances. I'm disappointed because I love the FA Cup, but it's football, it happens."

Stoke return to Premier League action this weekend when they travel to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.