A predictable scoreline as far as the cynics were concerned, perhaps, but it was not for want of ambition or enterprise that no goals were scored at Ewood Park yesterday.
Good performances by both goalkeepers, fortune, and poor finishing were the key factors in a busy and, in the second half at least, entertaining game.
The fact that Stoke were booed off at the Britannia Stadium after a scrappy and undeserved victory over Portsmouth last week was an indication that winning is no longer enough for many Potters fans, and it was not entirely surprising to see the skilful Liam Lawrence return on the right side of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
Rovers, in contrast, had David Dunn playing behind Franco Di Santo in a 4-4-1-1 line-up that suggested assistant manager Neil McDonald, in regular contact with Sam Allardyce as the Rovers’ manager continued his recovery from a successful angioplasty operation, believed the game had to be won in midfield, and that consequently goals could be at something of a premium.
With that in mind Thomas Sorensen’s save from Di Santo after only seven minutes looked vital. Running on to Keith Andrews’ through ball, the Italian striker beat the offside trap, but the City goalkeeper came out and saved well to his left.
It was Stoke’s turn to create a one on one with the goalkeeper after 18 minutes, when Ricardo Fuller’s pass put Dean Whitehead clear. Rovers’ keeper Paul Robinson emulated Sorensen, diving to save.
The sight of the in-form Dunn limping off after half an hour was a depressing one for the Rovers fans, though with Jason Roberts coming on, it did mean switching to two up front. Shortly afterwards the increasingly involved Lawrence combined with Fuller to create the space for a close-range volley, which Robinson blocked instinctively.
Initially Stoke continued to look the more likely of the sides to break the deadlock after the break, when Andy Wilkinson, played clear in the penalty area by Matthew Etherington’s neat lay-off, sliced wide from an angle.
Rovers responded, however, and after Ryan Nelsen’s bicycle kick was pushed around the post by Sorensen, Stoke’s failure to clear a corner resulted in Steven Nzonzi driving a shot against the outside of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.
At the other end Whitehead diverted Fuller’s pass away from Etherington just as the winger was about to pull the trigger, and James Beattie, on for Mamedy Sidibe, scooped the ball over from close range.
Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversStoke CityRichard Raeguardian.co.uk
