• No Stoke supporters involved
• Twenty-five year-old arrested

A man injured during yesterday’s Premier League match at Stoke City has died in hospital.

The 30-year-old fan is thought to have been hit on the head with a bin. He was found unconscious and taken to hospital where he died in the small hours of Sunday morning.

The incident occurred in the Blackburn Rovers section of the ground and police say no Stoke supporters were involved.

“The circumstances are being fully investigated,” said a police spokesman. “A 25-year-old man remains in custody and is helping police with their inquiries.”

The man was found by police just after 4pm on Saturday in the Britannia Stadium’s south stand which housed Blackburn fans.

Police said the man was treated at the scene for a head injury and cardiac arrest.

Chief Inspector Adrian Roberts, match commander at the game, said there were just over 1,300 Blackburn fans at the game, which Stoke won 3-0.

Stoke CityBlackburn RoversPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

Surviving for three years is the key to Premier League longevity, according to Stoke manager Tony Pulis, and his hard-working, no-frills Potters are already looking a safe bet to make it safely to the end of year two. That some supporters would like to see the team play with a touch more style, and ideally feature Tuncay Sanli from the start, is unlikely to affect the Welshman’s thinking as he seeks to bring to an end Blackburn’s run of five successive home victories. Captain Abdoulaye Faye returns after suspension and should go straight back into the side. Richard Rae

Venue Ewood Park

Tickets £17-29 (0871 222 1444)

Last season Blackburn 3 Stoke 0

Referee H Webb

This season’s matches 7 Y20, R0, 2.86 cards per game

sportingbet odds Blackburn 9-10 Stoke 13-5 Draw 12-5

Blackburn

Subs from Brown, Salgado, Grella, Emerton, McCarthy, Chimbonda, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Van Heerden, Olsson, Doran, Giannakopoulos, Kalinic

Doubtful Emerton (knee), Givet (thigh), Olsson (virus)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide LWWLLW

Disciplinary record Y20 R1

Leading scorer Dunn 5

Stoke

Subs from Simonsen, Wilkinson, Griffin, Higginbotham, Cort, Sidibe, Pugh, Diao, Whitehead, Tuncay, Arismendi

Doubtful None

Injured Amdy Faye (back, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WLDWWD

Disciplinary record Y26 R1

Leading scorers Beattie, Etherington 2

Match pointers

• Stoke have not won at Blackburn since March 1986 when a solitary goal from Carl Saunders proved sufficient to secure a 1-0 victory

• Blackburn have been caught offside on more occasions (49) than any other side in the Premier League

• Stoke have both scored and conceded 11 goals in their last 11 league games

• If selected, Brett Emerton will be making his 200th Premier League appearance

• 23% of Stoke’s passes this season have been long balls, the largest proportion in the top flight

Blackburn RoversStoke CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk