Source: SKY_Sports
Lawrence strike sinks Rovers
Liam Lawrence all but guaranteed Stoke's Premier League survival with a vital 75th-minute winner against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.[LNB] Stoke had the better of the chances in both halves at the Britannia Stadium, but it took until 15 minutes from time for the hosts to make the breakthrough.[LNB]James Beattie headed Danny Higginbotham's deep cross from the left wing towards Lawrence who was lurking on the right-hand side of the penalty area.[LNB]Lawrence took a touch on his right foot to turn inside Gael Givet before lashing a left-footed shot past Paul Robinson at his near post.[LNB]The keeper got his left hand to the strike, but he did not get enough behind it to stop it squirming under his body.[LNB]The win moves Stoke onto 39 points, eight points clear of the relegation zone and seven ahead of Newcastle who have a game in hand.[LNB]Rovers meanwhile drop to 17th place - just one above the drop zone - and remain on 34 points, just three from safety. [LNB]It was Stoke's first top-flight victory over Rovers at home for 44 years and extended their unbeaten home run to seven matches - which has been the key to their success in their maiden Premier League season.[LNB]AdriftMiddlesbrough's draw at home to Fulham reduced the gap between them and Blackburn to three, with second-bottom Newcastle playing on Sunday a further point adrift.[LNB]The hosts fully deserved their victory having enjoyed the majority of possession as injury-hit Rovers lacked a cutting edge.[LNB]Beattie could have put his side ahead against one of his former clubs in only the second minute when Rory Delap's throw was half-cleared to Glenn Whelan and his shot was deflected over by the striker.[LNB]Five minutes later Blackburn had their first shot but Morten Gamst Pedersen's left-foot volley from outside the penalty area sailed well over Thomas Sorensen's goal.[LNB]After much midfield action with very little threat to either goal Abdoulaye Faye's blushes were spared by his goalkeeper in the 16th minute.[LNB]The centre-back tried to head Stephen Warnock's hopeful through-ball back to Sorensen but almost put it past him with the Dane just managing to get a hand to it and then clutch it into his body.[LNB]AppealIn the 23rd minute Beattie fell to the ground under Andre Ooijer's challenge as he attempted to reach Lawrence's right-wing cross but referee Howard Webb waved away appeals for a penalty.[LNB]Moments later Higginbotham headed Lawrence's corner wide as Stoke stepped up the pressure.[LNB]Right-back Andy Wilkinson was booked in the 27th minute for going in late on El-Hadji Diouf and although Pedersen won a corner after Webb played the advantage the Rovers winger's subsequent cross was disappointing.[LNB]Stoke were screaming for a penalty again when Ricardo Fuller went down theatrically under pressure from Chris Samba but the Rovers centre-back had not touched his opponent.[LNB]Five minutes into the second half Stephen Kelly replaced Wilkinson, who had taken a knock to his back from Pedersen late in the first half.[LNB]Fuller was booked for his second late barge on Samba in the space of a couple of minutes, with Warnock's name following into Webb's book for clattering Whelan.[LNB]In the 55th minute Robinson made the first real save of note when he tipped over Lawrence's dipping drive from the right edge of the penalty area.[LNB]Matthew Etherington then should have done better when he headed wide Lawrence's cross to the far post.[LNB]Sam Allardyce sent on Carlos Villanueva for Benni McCarthy just before the hour.[LNB]WinnerThe breakthrough Stoke had been threatening finally came in the 75th minute.[LNB]Higginbotham's deep cross from the left was flicked on by Beattie to Lawrence, who showed great composure to bring the ball down, turn inside Givet and fire a shot into the near post which Robinson got a hand to but could not keep out.[LNB]Allardyce's response was to push Samba up front and send on David Dunn for Aaron Mokoena.[LNB]It was a desperate act for an increasingly desperate situation but it failed to pay off and the result leaves Rovers nervously looking over their shoulders into the bottom three again.[LNB][LNB][LNB]Stoke City[LNB]Team Statistics[LNB]Blackburn Rovers[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Goals[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]1st Half Goals[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]2[LNB]Shots on Target[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]6[LNB]Shots off Target[LNB]3[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Blocked Shots[LNB]4[LNB][LNB][LNB]4[LNB]Corners[LNB]6[LNB][LNB][LNB]14[LNB]Fouls[LNB]11[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Offsides[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]3[LNB]Yellow Cards[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Red Cards[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]61.8[LNB]Passing Success[LNB]56.8[LNB][LNB][LNB]10[LNB]Tackles[LNB]15[LNB][LNB][LNB]70[LNB]Tackles Success[LNB]46.7[LNB][LNB][LNB]48.2[LNB]Possession[LNB]51.8[LNB][LNB][LNB]48.4[LNB]Territorial Advantage[LNB]51.6[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
