West Ham United youngsters James Tomkins and Josh Payne enjoyed cup success with their respective loan clubs on Tuesday evening.
Central defender Tomkins, on a month's loan at Derby County, played the full 90 minutes as the Championship side reached the Carling Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1968.
Making just his second appearance for the Rams, the 19-year-old was in typically strong form as Nathan Ellington's late penalty saw Paul Jewell's side clinch a narrow 1-0 win over Premier League Stoke City.
Partnered by veteran Darren Powell at the heart of the Derby defence, Tomkins expertly shackled a three-pronged Potters attack including Jamaica international Ricardo Fuller and powerful Mali striker Mamady Sidibe.
Derby will take on either Championship rivals Burnley or the winners of Wednesday evening's quarter-finals between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and Watford and Tottenham Hotspur.
The first leg of the Rams' semi-final will take place in the week commencing 5 January, with the second leg a week later.
Tomkins, whose initial loan spell ends on 31 December, will return to competitive action when the east Midlands side host Crystal Palace at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Payne was re-called to Cheltenham Town's starting line-up by former Hammer Martin Allen as the Robins twice came from a goal down to beat Morecambe 3-2 in the FA Cup second round.
The 18-year-old, who is in his third month at Whaddon Road, has now made 10 league and cup appearances for Allen's side.
The Robins host the Championship's bottom side, Doncaster Rovers, in the third round on Saturday 3 January .
Payne will hope to keep his place for Cheltenham's home League One clash with Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.