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 all 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 defending was its usual unfussy self en route to highly effective offering 8

SHAWCROSS: Not his easiest outing in the first half, but a cakewalk after the break 7

HUTH: Tangling with hands a bit too much 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 nice touches and deliveries 8

WHITEHEAD: Popped up in various areas in various guises. 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 bread-and-butter contribution earlier 8

SIDIBE: Sound touch and awareness on his 150th start for Stoke, while strength was best illustrated on his 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 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: Begovic, Pugh, Diao, Collins.

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