Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Stoke City: Alex Neil watches as Potters win at Ewood
- Published
- comments
Alex Neil was watching from the main stand at Ewood Park
Alex Neil was in the stand at Ewood Park to watch Stoke City claim their first away win of the season.
The Sunderland boss, who is expected to be appointed as the Potters' next manager, saw a game settled by midfielder Lewis Baker's first-half curler.
Baker's 27th-minute right-foot shot dipped in front of home keeper Thomas Kaminski to find the bottom right corner - for only Stoke's second win of the season - and Rovers' first home defeat.
Stoke caretaker boss Dean Holden made widespread changes following Michael O'Neill's sacking on Thursday, ditching the Potters' three-man defence to go 4-3-3, as well as making five changes.
Goalkeeper Jack Bonham came in for Joe Bursiik, while Morgan Fox, Aden Flint, Sam Clucas and Dwight Gayle were all recalled in place of veteran defender Phil Jagielka, and loan men Gavin Kilkenny, Will Smallbone and Tariqe Fosu-Henry.
Lewis Baker has now scored 10 goals for Stoke since arriving from Chelsea in January
And it all clicked into place for the Potters as they sent Jon Dahl Tomasson's Rovers to a third straight defeat - in what was the 100th meeting between two founder members of the Football League, back in 1888.
Stoke had lost three away league games in a row, going back to last season, as well as losing on penalties in their last trip to Lancashire in the EFL Cup first round at Morecambe.
But they have a decent recent at Ewood Park, having not lost there now in eight visits - and there were plenty of reasons for positivity pending the expected confirmation of Neil's appointment.
In an energetic first-half display there were also clear-cut chances for on-loan Liam Delap, Flint, and last season's top scorer Jacob Brown.
And, when Blackburn improved after the restart, the managerless Potters showed heart and desire to protect their precarious lead - and record only their fourth win on the road in 2022.
Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson:
"It can be difficult when a club is changing manager. But we're disappointed with the result more than the performance.
"We didn't play a good game in the first half. Our decision making and our intensity. We were a bit passive in that way. We made bad decisions. Stoke got opportunities, but not a lot.
"The second half was an excellent half. We created opportunities, shots were blocked, we got the fans with us, a lot of intensity and good football. The only thing lacking was a goal so we need to learn from that.
"We need to start better. Even if you don't know exactly which formation the opponents will use, the boys were prepared for three different formations so it shouldn't be an issue."
Stoke caretaker manager Dean Holden:
"We knew that Blackburn play. They've got a nice style of football, but we knew we could catch them high up the pitch, which we did countless times. We probably should have come in at 2-0 really.
"We knew they'd throw everything at us, second half. Jack Bonham had one save to make, in the first half, and it was a good save. Other than that, there were a load of blocks, but Jack didn't have a lot to do.
"We showed what a good team we could be first half with the ball, and in the second half, we defended resolutely. There's the basis of a really good team. They've not shown it enough, particularly this season.
"The new manager coming in is going to have a really good group of players and more importantly, a really good group of staff to push this club where it needs to get to."