STOKE CITY 3
(Higginbotham 8, Sidibe 45, Etherington 67)
BLACKBURN 0

GOAL ATTEMPTS
Stoke 14 (7 on target)
Blackburn 6 (2 on target)

THE REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Kent) 5

CARD WATCH
YELLOW – Stoke: Shawcross (ungentlemanly conduct, 37), Fuller (foul, 73). Blackburn: Samba (ungentlemanly conduct, 37), Nzonzi (foul, 53), Andrews (foul, 90). RED – Stoke: None. Blackburn: Samba (second bookable, 59).

THE CROWD
Attendance 27,386

MATCH RATING
Entertainment 8

SORENSEN: Given a rough time in the air by Rovers, but fair credit for trying to put his name on alleverything in his half 7
WILKINSON: Bang to the head simply inspired him even more, in both halves of the pitch, but not to be recommended every week 8
HIGGINBOTHAM: Could have scored three or four in the end, while his defending was its usual unfussy self en route to highly effective offering 8
SHAWCROSS: Not his easiest outing in the first half when Rovers flexed their muscles, but a cakewalk after the break 7
HUTH: Tangling with hands a bit too much for comfort first half, but settled into groove during much easier second half 7
LAWRENCE: Added a sense of urgency at all times, while linked well and produced some nice touches and deliveries 8
WHITEHEAD: Popped up in various areas in various guises – and even won a “Deano, Deano” from the fans. Might not be such a bad signing after all 8
DELAP: Have his throws ever been so consistently long and powerful? Also chipped in with other aspects to ensure control stayed with Stoke 7
ETHERINGTON: Scintillating towards the end, particularly when scoring, but let’s not forget the more bread-and-butter contribution earlier in the piece 8
SIDIBE: Sound touch and awareness on his 150th start for Stoke, while strength was best illustrated on his scrambled goal 8
FULLER: Left the headlines to others for a change, but put in a decent shift and it was his skill that prompted the Samba sending off 7

SUBSTITUTES
TUNCAY (for Fuller, 79): Soon into his stride and clearly fancied a late goal for himself 7
BEATTIE (for Sidibe, 81): Cheered on by both sets of fans after visitors had serenaded him earlier with shouts of “Beattie is a Rover” 6
WHELAN (for Delap, 90): Late chance to stretch his legs before probable return at Wigan tomorrow night 6
Not used: 27 Begovic, 14 Pugh, 15 Diao, 22 Collins.

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Robinson, Chimbonda (Salgado, 65), Givet, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Nzonzi (Reid, 73), Pedersen, Olsson, Di Santo (Di Santo, 60), Kalinic. Subs: Andrews (forDi Santo, 60), Salgado (for Chimbonda, 65), Reid (for N’Zonzi, 73). Subs not used: Brown, Roberts, Diouf, Hoilett.

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