Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn 0 Stoke 2: Robert Huth and Marc Wilson give Steve Kean a baptism of fire
Sam Allardyce may have been sunning himself thousands of miles away in Qatar but the ghost of Blackburn's sacked manager could be felt around a freezing Ewood Park.[LNB]The decision to axe him haunted the club's owners Venky's and their chosen successor Steve Kean in the manner of this lame defeat.[LNB]It showed in the body language of players who still appear to be in shock and the reaction of supporters who demonstrated against the Indian poultry firm outside the main entrance.[LNB] High climber: Stoke City's Robert Huth heads home[LNB] [LNB] In dismissing Allardyce in such a shoddy manner and talking up Kean's promotion from first-team coach, Venky's have made life unnecessarily tough for the highly rated Scot.[LNB]What should have been the start of an exciting chapter in his burgeoning career is turning into a nightmare.[LNB]Hehas seen club captain Ryan Nelsen and team skipper Chris Samba, two of the most influential figures in his dressing room, turn on the owners inpublic, and chairman John Williams pushed to the brink of quitting.[LNB] They're not happy: Blackburn fans display a banner showing their support for former boss Sam Allardyce[LNB]Then,having flown to India in search of positive news to rouse his players, he had to witness a lifeless Boxing Day performance that saw Blackburn deservedly beaten by second-half goals from Robert Huth and substitute Marc Wilson.[LNB]In two home games since he was appointed, Rovers have failed to beat bottom club West Ham and lost to Stoke. One point, one goal. Not a great impact on ateam who had won their last three home games.[LNB] [LNB] Already under pressure: Blackburn boss Steve Kean[LNB]Compare that with Allardyce's arrival two years ago when he ended Blackburn's run of six straightdefeatswith a 3-0 win ironically against Stoke and the fact he only lost six Premier League games at home. It is understandable why many in football think Venky's would have been better off sticking to chicken farming.[LNB]'I can understand the frustration of fans because we've lost a home game,' said Kean. 'It's to be expected that they will vent their feelings. There has been upheaval and things happening at the club, to say the least, but we haveto try and move forward.[LNB] On the Marc: Wilson scores Stoke's second goal[LNB]'Everybody's under pressure when you lose games. I just hope the fans can see that the lads arepositive.'[LNB]Keanconfirmed he has stripped Samba of the captain's armband following his demand to leave and handed it to Nelsen, but insisted the 6ft 4in Congo defender would have played had he not failed a fitness test on his injured ankle in the morning.[LNB]Ifthere was one player needed to combat Stoke's aerial threat, it was Samba. And Blackburn's weakness was exposed in the 13th minute when Matthew Etherington should have done much better than steer the ball wide from a difficult angle after Rory Delap's long throw was flicked onby Ryan Shawcross.[LNB]That was the best of a truly awful first half. But Stoke's advantage paid offin the 51st minute when Etherington whipped in a corner from the right and Robert Huth made a well-timed run to the nearpost, shrugging off Mame Biram Diouf 's challenge before heading past Paul Robinson.[LNB]TheBlackburn keeper produced a fine reflex save to keep out Kenwyne Jones's header, but it was 82 minutes before young Grant Hanley forced asimilar save out of Asmir Begovic with Blackburn's first genuine goal attempt. Wilson sealed victory in the third minute of added time with a fine right-foot finish into the bottom corner.[LNB]Stokeboss Tony Pulis said: 'I'm not sure it was a good time to play Blackburn. Usually when a new manager takes over, their results pick up so you don't know. I'm just pleased with the players' reaction because the defeat to Blackpool last time out was hard to take.'[LNB][LNB] [LNB] Blackburn boss to bring in three new faces after revealing Samba wants outVenky's chief to intervene as Blackburn look for answersBLACKBURN ROVERS FC
