The Blues boss was without 12 first team players for the game at The Britannia Stadium but he was delighted after seeing the side book their place in the hat for Monday's Quarter Final draw.
"It wasn't pretty at times but our attituide was magnificent and we will need that over the next few weeks," Bruce said after the 1-0 win.
"This club can only ever win two things and that's the two Cups.
"You have to win six games and we've won three of them.
"For me this is the only big club never to have won anything and I'd love to be the manager that takes them to their first bit of silverware.
"Now we're in to the quarter final and if we get everybody fit and get a nice home draw then we've got a chance. Once you get to quarter final and semi final stages then anything can happen in the FA Cup.
"Who would have thought that we would come to Stoke and win with 12 players missing, 7 of them regulars? But we stuck at it and got something out of the game."