All the facts and figures ahead of Stoke City's Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park

PREVIOUS MEETING

April 21, 1990

Stoke City 0

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Mail pen 65)

LEE Sandford conceded the winning penalty and was later sent off for a second bookable offence on a day to forget for the defender.

All of which heaped further misery on Alan Ball's stricken side in their first game since relegation was mathematically assured.

Stoke's luck that day was summed up when the much-maligned Tony Ellis collapsed dramatically in a futile attempt to win a penalty.

Just three fixtures remained after this one as Stoke nosedived into the old Third Division. But we all knew Bally would bring them straight back.

Stoke: Fox, Ware, Fowler, Blake, Sandford, Boughey, Scott, Thomas (Gallimore), Kevan, Biggins, Ellis.

Blackburn: Gennoe, Atkins, Dawson, Reid, Moran, Mail, Kennedy, Millar, Stapleton (Gayle), Garner, Sellars.

Attendance: 9,305.

FORM GUIDE

Blackburn: LLLLL

Stoke: WDLDD

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Roque Santa Cruz. Last season proved there is a fine striker in there, it just needs coaxing out again.

WHO TO BOO?

Turkish international Tugay will do something to wind up the visitors, he usually does.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Peter Walton (Northants). Supervised the 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford – the scene of three of his 11 Premier League assignments to date.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Warnock, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Tugay, Andrews, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire.

Stoke City: Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Sonko, Ab Faye, Delap, Whelan, Am Faye, Pugh, Cresswell, Fuller.

PREDICTION

BLACKBURN'S bright start against Stoke's typically diligent defences fades away and Allardyce is relieved to see Robinson twice deny Stoke in closing stages of goalless draw.