Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Stoke by far the better side. Midfield dominating with Ben Pearson, Josh Laurent and Will Smallbone controlling the match.

Mark Atkins
Former Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

It's been a poor first half, Blackburn never really got going and have been second best all over the pitch.

With the ball they've been shocking.

Image source, Getty Images

Not the most entertaining of halves truth be told, but Ki-Jana Hoever's double sends Stoke into a two-goal lead against Blackburn.

Work to do for Rovers.

Not that it matters a great deal now but replays show Stoke probably should have had a penalty after Will Smallbone was seemingly brought down by Dominic Hyam in the Blackburn box.

One minute of time added onto this first half.

Mark Atkins
Former Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

Stoke have wanted it more. They won two or three tackles, they've put balls in the box and Hoever beats Tyrhys Dolan again. He's not done his job.

Stoke have been good but Rovers have been terrible.

Not long until half-time now.

This has been a pretty drab half of football to be honest. Stoke worthy of their lead. Blackburn doing little to respond so far.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Bet 365 Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

They say, on a cold night in Stoke, that the sound travels further.

And it's three and a half years since Ki-Jana Hoever scored his only previous goal - for Liverpool, on his full debut in a League Cup tie at MK Dons in September 2019.

But what a noise it made as the Stoke fans exploded with a mixture of joy and relief, as they really should already have been one up.

I think I really can still feel the crack of that Will Smallbone shot smacking against the Blackburn crossbar reverberating around in my head - followed by that inevitable semi-stifled roar of Gooooo-ohhhhhnoooo!!!!!!

It was a thunderous effort from Smallbone. Reminiscent of famous past footballing cannonball hotshots like Peter Lorimer, Bruce Rioch, Ray Stewart, Steve Bull etc. And you had to feel sorry for the bar. But he really HAD to score! Anyway, the Potters are ahead now, so maybe it won't matter.

Tyrese Campbell works onto a loose ball on the corner of the Blackburn box as Stoke keep pressing.

He gets a shot away but it's well blocked by the visitors.

Just the four goals in the first half of this one then..

Callum Hendry's leveller for Salford on the verge of half-time sends them in on level terms with Crewe at the break.

Meanwhile in the Championship, Will Smallbone plays Jacob Brown through on the edge of the Blackburn box as Stoke go on the attack.

But Brown fires a wayward shot well over the crossbar.

Mark Atkins
Former Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

That's the downside of letting your full-backs go into midfield.

Tyrhys Dolan hasn't tracked his runner and he's ended up with a free shot at the far post.

It's a great finish.

To be fair to Stoke, in the last 10 minutes they've done quite well.

Blackburn's intensity isn't the same as it was last Saturday against Sheffield United. They've not won any balls in Stoke's half.

Mark Atkins
Former Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

It's been a bit of a scrappy game so far, there's not been much quality to it.

Axel Tuanzebe is forced into covering Sammie Szmodics as the Blackburn man is played through into the Stoke box by Tyrhys Dolan.

Dolan's been in impressive form of late but that pass just had slightly too much weight on it.

The tempo's calmed down a bit after a pretty frantic few minutes in this one.

Both sides seem content to sit back for the time being.

Dwight Gayle plays through Jacob Brown as Stoke continue to play havoc with the Blackburn defence.

He turns and fires right footed towards goal but the visitors deflect his shot away for a corner.

It's sent into the box but it's headed away by Sam Gallagher.