Gary Rowett 's triple substitution paid off as Peter Crouch's equaliser kept Stoke in the FA Cup after a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury.
Crouch was introduced from the bench along with Tyrese Campbell and Mame Diouf as Stoke left it late to cancel out Ollie Norburn's penalty which had given League One Shrewsbury the lead on the stroke of half time.
Crouch forced a replay 12 minutes from time when Diouf helped on a left-wing cross from Campbell and the former England striker fired home at the far post.
Stoke manager Rowett said: "We knew we had some different options on the bench, a bit more physicality. I think that Tyrese knows he's quick and powerful and he just uses that rather than tries to be clever.
"Crouchy and Mam are going to get in the box like they did for the goal. Mam gets across the front, Crouchy round the back in a position where he's been so often and scored so many goals over his career, so I thought the three have come on and changed the game."
Shrewsbury edged ahead in first-half stoppage time as midfielder Norburn confidently converted a penalty after Aaron Amadi-Holloway was brought down by Tom Edwards in the box.
Amadi-Holloway then headed a chance over the bar early in the second half as Shrewsbury chased victory against their Championship opponents.
"It was a difficult game," said Rowett. "I felt it was always going to be a difficult game because of the last three games for us and, of course, the negativity surrounding that recent run of form.
"It's an away game in the FA Cup, which are never easy against a side only a division below us, and the pitch was a difficult pitch. Straightaway, you could see it, it's not a criticism, but you knew that it was going to be a difficult pitch to move the ball quickly and kind of show the extra quality."
Rowett added: "Second half was a lot better without the final bit of quality again and then I felt the three substitutes made a big difference."
Shrewsbury must now prepare for a replay at the bet365 Stadium after going close to claiming a higher division scalp.
Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts said: "It's something to look forward to, something to relish and we'll be ready when we get there. We'll be ready to give it our all and see what happens then."
Encouraged with his side's display, Ricketts stressed: "Obviously, I'm really pleased with the standard of the performance. We're setting standards which I want to maintain and we need to hit.
"We can't hit them every game but I want to hit them more games than not and we did it again today.
"The last little piece missing off that was to get through to the next round and we were so close.
"I think we had the better chances. We had a really good chance to go 2-0 up in the game. Our goalkeeper's had one save to make all game."
