Blackburn Rovers 3 v Stoke City FC 0

Stoke were the better team in the first half,yet found themselves 3 goals down by halftime,as a resullt of poor defending.Sonko tackled lamely to present Blackburn with a penalty on 9 minutes,which Mc Carthy converted.On 18 minutes against the run of play the home side went 2 goals up,Roberts scored for the home team as Shawcross ,clearly uncomfortable playing at right back,dallied on the ball.Mc Carthy notched his second in the 27th minute.He skipped around Sonko with ease,his initial shot being saved by Simonsen,but rebounded to the striker,who tucked it away.

Throughout the game Stoke did not generate any substantial threat,despite having plenty of the ball and the home side not playing at all well. Whelan clipped Robinson's bar early on,and at the death sub Olofinjana brought a reaction save out of the surprised home keeper.