Potters boss Tony Pulis gave new signing Jonathan Woodgate his debut in Split as his side looked to protect the slender one-goal advantage given to them by Jonathan Walters’ header at the Britannia Stadium a week ago.
Chances were few and far between in a tepid first half, with Stoke simply happy to keep the partisan home crowd at the Poljud Stadium quiet as Hajduk lacked the quality to break them down.
Much of the home side’s best work came down the right flank, where first Ivan Vukovic and then Marin Tomasov cut inside and unleashed fierce left-footed strikes which got the attention of Potters keeper Asmir Begovic.
Stoke’s attacking intent was mostly limited to pumping high balls and crosses into Kenwyne Jones, but they did get a sniff of goal when Walters received the ball free in the six-yard box, but with his back to goal he was unable to test opposition keeper Daniel Subasic.
After the interval the match initially followed largely the same pattern, with Hajduk trying to dictate the game in the midfield and Stoke content to sit and try and break down the flanks.
As the half wore on, however, Stoke’s defensive line began to drop deeper and deeper, and Jones and Walters were reduced to the role of spectators as Hajduk repeatedly prodded and probed the visitors’ backline.
Time and again, though, the Potters’ committed and organised defending denied Hajduk space in the final third, and the Croatians were reduced to half-hearted penalty appeals and tame efforts from outside the box.
There was no late rally from the home side, and instead Tony Pulis’ side confirmed their place in the next round with a late winner as substitute Ryan Shotton headed home from Dean Whitehead’s inviting right-wing cross as Stoke’s first European adventure in 37 years goes on.
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Hajduk Split 0-1 Stoke City (Agg 0-2): Ryan Shotton header earns Potters place in Europa League play-off round