City emphatically brushed aside Sheffield United on Tuesday night picking up an exceptional 3-0 win at Bramall Lane.
Goals from Richard Cresswell and Ryan Shawcross, either side of a James Beattie own goal secured the Potters third straight victory and elevated them in to the top six.
Tony Pulis made one change ahead of the match with Andy Wilkinson being drafted in to replace Stephen Wright.
City got the match off to a dream start, just 100 seconds had elapsed before they took the lead.
A long ball forward evaded the United defence, and Liam Lawrence drilled the ball across the box which Cresswell simply tapped home for his seventh of the season.
Three minutes later things got even better. Lawrence whipped in a dangerous free kick, Leon Cort flicked the ball on and it deflected off striker James Beattie before nestling in the bottom left hand corner.
Tony Pulis' side were rampant, and with the home supporters becoming increasingly frustrated, Shawcross put another nail in the coffin on 17 minutes.
On loan Crystal Palace man Cort rose highest from Lawrence's corner, but his effort was cleared off the line, only as far as the Manchester United youngster, who calmly placed the ball past the keeper for his sixth goal of the campaign.
The Potters faithful were jubilant behind the goal, and when another teasing Lawrence ball found its way to Ricardo Fuller it should have been four, however his header dipped just over the bar.
Bryan Robson brought on Jon Stead midway through the half to shaken things up a bit, and it nearly paid dividends as the ex-Blackburn man found Beattie on the edge of the area, who fired straight at Steve Simonsen.
A quick counter attack down the left wing caused more trouble in the Sheffield rearguard.
A quick burst of pace from Fuller almost led to another goal for City, but after squaring to partner Mamady Sidibe, an outstretched leg of Matthew Kilgallon blocked his goalbound strike.
The hosts desperately tried to break down City's stubborn defence as the half wore on, but Cort and Shawcross defended gallantly to retain the three goal lead.
Robson's side returned from the half time interval refreshed and while they looked busy, they rarely looked like a threat to City's backline.
Long range strikes from Beattie and Michael Tonge kept Simonsen's hands warm, while Fuller twice went close for the Potters.
Firstly he latched on to Sidibe's flick on and smashed over, then just minutes later he danced his way through the defence but Paddy Kenny brilliantly saved low down.
More neat football from the Potters resulted in John Eustace firing an effort in from 20-yards, but Kenny got down well to save.
The Blades pushed forward in the final stages of the game but Pulis' side held on for an impressive victory.
