The Potters triumphed 7-6 in the shoot-out at the Britannia Stadium thanks to Thomas Sorensen's save from Spurs debutant Massimo Luongo.

The game, which for both teams was their third in six days due to their Europa League exploits, had finished 0-0 after extra-time with Sorensen palming a powerful strike by Roman Pavlyuchenko over the bar in the 53rd minute and Jon Walters failing to convert a one-on-one chance for the hosts in the additional half-hour.

Sorensen then proved to be Stoke's hero and Pulis felt it was important his side - who suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday, a 4-0 thumping at Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League - emerged with the victory.

"The big thing with today's game is that we have had to play extra-time and then penalties," Pulis said.

"I think when you have to go through all of that, getting beaten then would have been a massive downer for us.

"So with the way the game panned out and the way it ran, to win it hopefully will give the players a lift again."

Stoke suffered an early setback when Kenwyne Jones pulled up with an injury in the 10th minute and had to limp off.

Pulis confirmed it was a hamstring problem and that the striker - who was replaced by former Spurs man Peter Crouch - would be assessed tomorrow.

"We won't know the extent until tomorrow," Pulis said.

"It is his hamstring, so he'll have a scan tomorrow and then we'll know."

After Walters and Jermain Defoe had scored their penalties to make it 1-1 in the shoot-out, Tottenham were given the chance to seize the initiative when Jermaine Pennant crashed Stoke's second spot-kick against the crossbar.

Pavlyuchenko promptly blazed his over, though, and after a series of successful kicks, Luongo's failure to beat Sorensen was decisive.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp praised Luongo for having the courage to take the penalty.

"He is okay, of course," Redknapp said.

"If Pavlyuchenko had scored, he wouldn't have had to take one, would he? It would have been all over, but that is how it goes.

"The kid had the bottle to step up and take one - so did young Tom Carroll and Jake Livermore, so that was good."

Pulis also had words of support for Luongo.

"At least he had the strength of character to go up and do it," Pulis said.

"I thought he played well. He looked a decent young player."