Early goal enough for resolute Stoke

Published on: 19 December 2020

Nick Powell's header was his fifth goal in 19 games this season for Stoke

Stoke City kept a sixth clean sheet in seven games as they held on to beat Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

Unmarked Nick Powell scored what proved to be the Potters' winner - and their only effort on target in the match - when he powerfully headed home Morgan Fox's sixth-minute cross from the left.

Blackburn almost levelled mid-way through the first half, but Barry Douglas' low shot from the edge of the box came back off the post after Stoke failed to clear Ryan Nyambe's cross.

Stoke defended stoutly for the rest of the game limiting free-scoring Rovers to just two efforts on goal, despite Tony Mowbray's side piling on the pressure towards the end of the game.

    Re-live Saturday's EFL action

The win sees Stoke move up to seventh place, outside the play-off places on goal difference only, while Blackburn stay 11th, five points further back.

Having gone ahead, Stoke sat back and did well to nullify a Rovers side who had who had scored 13 times in their previous seven games and dominated the first-half possession.

Free-scoring striker Adam Armstrong did break through shortly after half-time, but City keeper Josef Bursik saved as the forward tried to dink it over him.

Armstrong had another chance to level in the 89th minute, but the Championship's second-highest top scorer fired wide after a good ball in from Bradley Johnson.

Stoke City manager Michael O'Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:

"It's a defence masterclass because the opposition made us defend and especially in the first half we turned the ball over a lot.

"We scored a great goal and we were containing them, they didn't have many clear cut chances and then we had more of the game in the second half.

"Towards the end, they threw everything forward and we stuck to the task to get the three points."

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsStoke

    32Bursik37Collins36Souttar12ChesterBooked at 36mins3Fox24Cousins35Tymon18BrownSubstituted forMcCleanat 66'minutes25PowellSubstituted forOakley-Bootheat 65'minutes7InceSubstituted forThompsonat 75'minutes21FletcherSubstituted forVokesat 74'minutes

Substitutes

    6Batth9Vokes11McClean14Smith17Shawcross20Oakley-Boothe23Verlinden34Thompson40Nna Noukeu

Blackburn

    1Kaminski2NyambeSubstituted forBuckleyat 78'minutes26Lenihan4Johnson15Douglas10HoltbySubstituted forButterworthat 64'minutes19TrybullSubstituted forDowningat 64'minutes8RothwellSubstituted forChapmanat 85'minutes16Elliott7Armstrong9GallagherSubstituted forDolanat 65'minutes

Substitutes

    6Downing11Chapman13Pears17Bell18Davenport21Buckley25Carter32Butterworth39Dolan

Referee:David WebbMatch StatsHome TeamStokeAway TeamBlackburnPossessionHome31%Away69%ShotsHome3Away15Shots on TargetHome1Away3CornersHome2Away6FoulsHome9Away9Live TextPost update

Match ends, Stoke City 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.

90'+6'Full Time

Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.

90'+5'Post update

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Tashan Oakley-Boothe.

90'+4'Post update

Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by Jordan Thompson (Stoke City).

90'+4'Post update

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Harry Souttar.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt saved. Harvey Elliott (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt blocked. Harvey Elliott (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

90'+3'Post update

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Tashan Oakley-Boothe.

89'Post update

Bradley Johnson (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89'Post update

Foul by Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Stoke City).

88'Post update

Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bradley Johnson with a through ball.

88'Post update

Attempt blocked. Daniel Butterworth (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bradley Johnson.

87'Post update

Attempt saved. Barry Douglas (Blackburn Rovers) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan with a cross.

85'Post update

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Harry Chapman.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Harry Chapman replaces Joe Rothwell.

84'Post update

Foul by John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers).

84'Post update

James McClean (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

80'Post update

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by James McClean.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. John Buckley replaces Ryan Nyambe.

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Source: bbc.com

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