Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has hailed his side's professionalism during their 2-0 win at Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup.

Stephen Ireland's first goal in almost two years and a stoppage-time strike from Peter Crouch fired the Potters into round four of the competition.

"You could tell the lads were very focussed on the job in hand this evening, and that was very pleasing for me," he told the club's official website.

"We played some really good stuff at times tonight, and you could tell that the confidence within the team is growing all of the time."

"To make as many changes as we did tonight and still maintain that level of performance was really pleasing; and it bodes incredibly well for the future."

Stoke will take on Birmingham City in the next phase of the competition.