by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

DEAN Whitehead was more concerned about his missed chances than his impressive performance after Stoke had to settle for a goalless draw at Blackburn.

The ex-Sunderland midfielder’s all-round display was surely his best since moving from the Black Cats for £3m in the summer.

But he was frustrated he couldn’t cap a battling display by taking one of the two gilt-edged opportunities that came his way either side of the break.

The 27-year-old sprung the off-side trap from Ricardo Fuller’s 19th-minute through-ball, only to be foiled by a fine save by former England keeper Paul Robinson.

He then missed the chance to make amends on 63 minutes when he couldn’t connect properly with Fuller’s pull-back after the striker had brilliantly wriggled free in the Blackburn area.

After slicing wide, the midfielder felt even worse when he saw Matthew Etherington unmarked at the back post, waiting to score had Whitehead left the ball.

He said: “I should have done a lot better for the first chance. The keeper showed me a corner to make me play it there. I did and he saved it.
“But I am more disappointed with the one in the second half where Ric went down the line and cut it back. I didn’t see Matty behind me, and as I came in I nicked it and took it off his foot.

“We feel as if we have got a good point, but having the chances we did we feel as though we should be going away with three.”

A further blow for Whitehead was his first-half booking for a foul on El-Hadji Diouf. It takes him to five for the season and means he will serve a one-game ban for Saturday’s trip to Arsenal.

He said: “It is disappointing, but when you play in the middle of the park you know you are going to pick up bookings.”

“We have a superb squad at the moment, so that’s no problem.”

Whitehead was a contender for man of the match in an entertaining game. Gary Lineker’s weary Match of the Day summary: “Not really a thriller” suggests the host had popped out during the highlights.

Whitehead said: “We’ll be last on Match of the Day – we know all that stuff – but I thought there was some good football out there. We created some good chances.” and are disappointed not to get the goal.”

Blackburn’s assistant boss Neil McDonald, who was standing in as manager while Sam Allardyce recovers from heart surgery, said both teams had chances, but praised Stoke for being hard to break down.

Stoke have taken seven points from their seven away games, so are well on course to surpass the 10 they managed away from home over the whole of last season.

Whitehead said: “We are solid all over the park. We try to make it difficult for teams and are dangerous on the break, which is important away from home.

“If we can pick up points away from home, and now and again three points, then, with our form at the Britannia, we can be right up there.

“It is all about getting the points. If you do it in a good manner then fair enough. But Coming here, you know you have to defend a lot of long balls and a lot of knock downs and second balls. We did that really well.”

“Our back four are magnificent. They have been magnificent all season and they handled it, no problem.”

Whitehead played a part in Stoke’s defensive effort as he and Salif Diao formed a protective shield in central midfield which allowed Etherington and Liam Lawrence to get forward from the wings but he also looked a threat going forward and deserved a goal.

He said: “It takes time, but I feel I am getting better. There’s more to come, that’s for sure.”