Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Stoke City: Rovers held by Potters in stalemate at Ewood Park
- Published
Blackburn's Ryan Nyambe went close to breaking the stalemate at Ewood Park
Blackburn Rovers' play-off ambitions were dented as they were held to a goalless draw at Ewood Park by struggling Stoke City.
Potters goalkeeper Jack Butland produced a series of saves to thwart the hosts and earn his side a valuable point in their battle to avoid relegation.
The draw meant Rovers stay eighth in the table, four points behind sixth-placed Preston North End, who were beaten by leaders West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, while Stoke remain 20th, one point above the bottom three.
Adam Armstrong, making his 100th league appearance for Blackburn, had their best chances to end the stalemate, but could not find a way past Butland.
Butland was largely untroubled during the opening period, with Stoke restricting their hosts to half chances, although full-back Lewis Nyambe arrowed a 25-yarder narrowly wide of the top corner.
Blackburn continued to apply pressure in the second half, with Butland spreading himself to block Sam Gallagher as he ran on to Darragh Lenihan's through ball.
The keeper got down to foil Armstrong twice, as well as making further stops from Joe Rothwell and Gallagher.
Opposite number Christian Walton pushed cs 65th-minute effort around the post, but otherwise had relatively little to do.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We're left frustrated. They came with a pretty decent defensive gameplan. Michael knows how to set up a team defend and they played deep to negate our speed and narrowed the midfield.
"It was an awkward night for us and it would have been nice had we nicked a goal from a set piece, we'd have taken 1-0.
"We knocked on the door a few times but it was hard to get through but let's not be too disappointed."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It was a very good defensive performance. I thought as a team our work-rate was fantastic. It's a really good point against a team in good form.
"I felt at times with the ball we could have been better and we had opportunities on the counter-attack where at our best we've capitalised on and we didn't manage that.
"But that's probably being critical because what the players gave in terms of effort was enormous."