This time Stoke can’t come back from 0-1 down, despite O’Neill throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Rovers in the last half-hour. A late equaliser followed by Rovers catching City on the break is the headline. Maybe the kitchen sink might have done better. Here’s how it unfolded in real time:
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The sun shines on the brave…So, how brave are these two sides? Well, the sun shines, but to play in this cold you have to be brave! Stoke with 2 wins in 3, and Rovers with 3 wins in 4 (only beaten by Leeds). Good grief, this could be a lively one…more lively than the Cardiff damp squid of a defeat. James McClean returns from suspension, but the choice of Sam Vokes up front is a bit hopeful. “We might have a regular goalscorer in our midst,” claims Michael O’Neill. Oh yes? Who’s that then?
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1.44 Already 2 fouls on Allen! Clearly got it in for him.
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4.50 Vokes is winning balls in the air! Mind you, Sam is up against the beanpole that is Adarabioyo
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12.15 0-1 !! Rovers wait for their moment, and from a corner the ball ricochets around the 6 yard box till Bradley Dack scoops home. Welcome to Snafu Stoke, Michael.
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22.25 As Carter-Vickers slices a shot/cross into the stand, it shows how out-classed Stoke are all over the pitch by Rovers. Sam Vokes looks lost and McClean thwarted, and despite City having 5 midfielders, it’s all Blackburn.
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26.55 Woods wants to take a throw 20 yards behind where it went out, but the ref is having none of it. Everybody reaches for their rule book…
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31.05 A half chance wakes crowd, but Ince’s header from McClean’s cross is wayward. Nothing to sing about.
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42.08 Woods is everywhere. Can’t say he’s achieving much, but he’s everywhere. one corking cross though.
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HT Stoke 0 Better Side 1
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46.11 Ince hits a rocket…just wide, unsurprisingly. Stoke out fighting.
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48.30 Vokes header brings off a save from Walton! These guys have been well-paid spectators up until now. Stoke desperately trying to rattle Rovers’ cage.
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Attendance is 22,292.
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54.30 Both Allen & Ward caught on the ball, both thinking they’re playing at a level where they have more time.
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62.00 Diouf on for McClean…..No sorry, the announcer got it wrong, it’s Ince who’s off!, and Hogan on for Woods! Immediately Adarabioyo slices a ball over his bar!
here.
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66.10 Suddenly everyone’s taking shots, although they’re all deflected and wide.
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68.00 McClean robs his marker, but Hogan can’t quite finish off the cross.
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70.09 Vokes can’t convert Diouf’s cross! Just wide. Diouf clearly sees himself as the new Tom Ince…
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72.40 Ref falls over, and thus fails to see a Stoke foul. All comes to nothing, though.
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77.09 Nick Powell on for Stephen Ward. It’s a crazy day at sea here! O’Neill lobs everyone forward.
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78.58 Powell, Vokes and Hogan set up Diouf on goal, but his 2 attempts are somehow cleared, as is the corner.
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79.50 1-1 !!!! The subsequent corner is bundled home, claimed by Scott Hogan…not so sure from replay! probably an own-goal by Dack!
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83.03 Nick Powell blasts the ball out and then claims the throw! And he gets it!
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83.43 1-2 !!! Excellent goal from Rovers, catching Stoke on the break. Sub Sam Gallagher gets on the end of a great run & cross by other sub Bennett.
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90+4 Stoke out of steam. FT City 1 Rovers 2.
