Stoke City toothless against Rovers

Stoke 0 Blackburn 1 – 27/11/21 3pm

Stoke were again undone by an organised side, with Rovers going above City to go 4th. One goal was enough, and Stoke never really looked dangerous. Shame. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
With Joe Allen suspended (red card), it’s possible that junior Tyrese Campbell is the senior Stoke player in today’s game squad in that he’s been with the club the longest! (Ok, perhaps it’s Josh Tymon, although he’s been out on loan a lot!!) He replaces Fletch. Meanwhile superspy, Ben Brereton Diaz (born in Stoke, but plays for Chile) starts for Rovers! Schooled in Blythe Bridge, his mum supposedly works for Churchill’s! What a strange world!
0.33 Ben Wilmot seems surprised to find Batth & Captain Chester at the back instead of the more familiar Harry and Leo. A big difference in tempo.
8.40 Jacob Brown dragged down in a if-he-played-for-Stoke-you-would-send-him-off moment.
11.05 Diaz cheekily lobs the advancing keeper but it’s just wide. One to watch, these Blythe Bridge kids!
16.15 Ben Wilmot is no nonsense. After they try to pass him to get to Diaz, he tackles Diaz strongly, and Diaz isn’t pleased. Replay inconclusive! Diaz heads off to the right hand side to get away from Wilmot!
45+1 And that’s it, really! 0-0 HT
Attendance 21,739
49.18 Best chance of the day as Sawyers brings out a save in Kaminski (although it was going just wide), and then Vrancic whose shot is suspiciously beaten away to the protests of Stoke players. Corner, surely? Goal kick given. Ref is not fit to referee, suggest the crowd.
51.23 0-1 !! Easy as pie for Khadra drifts through to blast past Davies.
52.30 Oddly, the keeper Kaminski has gone down, despite his injury being as a result of the save from Sawyers several minutes ago. 3-4 minutes later he is replaced by Pears after Tom goes round to thank everyone on the pitch! Uh?
59.40 Diaz goes down, yet replay shows he tripped himself! Tymon agog!
65.45 Ince for Fox, Fletcher for Brown.
73.30 Bizarre moment where Davies is eventually booked for trying to kick the ball out of the hands of a time-wasting player (who’s also booked)! Animated Rovers players should also be punished, methinks.
77.30 Alfie Doughty on for Chester, who has taken a lot of flack from the crowd.
87.01 Best chance for Diaz, but Davies saves in this one-to-one encounter.
89.20 Wilmot is FINALLY yellow carded, and that must mean a suspension. He’s lasted the whole game!
90+1 Diaz is finally booked for time-wasting, and he’s the 3rd Rovers yellowed for such crimes! 7 minutes added, but it could so easily be 9!
90+3 Fletch brings out great save from Pears. Too little too late.
90+7 FT city 0 rovers 1. Stoke 7th, Rovers 4th!!
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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