Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke 1 Blackburn 0: Punchless Rovers sunk by old boy Jon Walters
Jon Walters condemned his former club to defeat after scoring his first goal for Stoke in the Barclays Premier League. [LNB]The £2.75million summer signing from Ipswich scored the winner in the 47th minute at the Britannia Stadium. [LNB] Quick out the blocks: Jonathan Walters fires Stoke in front at the start of the second-half[LNB]It was a special moment for Walters given that he played for Blackburn in his youth before joining Bolton. [LNB]The 27-year-old has been on a long journey but has settled in quickly in his new surroundings. [LNB]It was Stoke's second successive victory following the win over Newcastle and Blackburn could have little complaint.[LNB] They rarely looked an attacking force with Mame Diouf ploughing a lone furrow up front. [LNB]Not only that Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant were both busy down the flanks for the home side while Dean Whitehead put in a hard shift in the middle of the park. [LNB]Stoke got quickly into their stride and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen released Etherington with a long throw. He raced down the left before delivering a cross into the area only for Brett Emerton to make the clearance with Jermaine Pennant lurking. [LNB]Stoke maintained the momentum and Kenwyne Jones made space for himself before sending a 20-yard shot wide of the post. [LNB] Not this time: Rovers' Phil Jones slides in on Jon Walters[LNB]Blackburn again found themselves on the back foot in the eighth minute when Etherington picked out Jones but his header failed to test goalkeeper Paul Robinson. [LNB]This was a good spell by Stoke and a long throw from Rory Delap took a deflection and came back off the post in the 10th minute. [LNB]Walters latched on to the rebound only for Robinson to turn his effort over the bar. Blackburn responded and almost took the lead in the 15th minute.[LNB] Emerton's delicate chip beat Sorensen but Ryan Shawcross was on hand and averted the danger. It was brief respite, however with Delap's long throw finding Jones. [LNB]He got up high but his header was taken cleanly by Robinson. Stoke kept up the pressure and Etherington found space on the left, only to see his well-struck effort go narrowly off-target. [LNB]Then Etherington was denied by Robinson in the 35th minute after Pennant delivered the cross. [LNB]Blackburn were being limited to counter-attacks and Phil Jones cracked in a shot from inside the penalty area three minutes later but it was blocked by Robert Huth. [LNB] On the run: Phil Jones (left) holds off Stoke's Jermaine Pennant [LNB]Stoke made the breakthrough two minutes into the half after a towering leap from Jones released Etherington.[LNB] He threaded the ball through to Walters, who had timed his run to perfection before drilling a shot beyond Robinson.[LNB] Stoke almost added a second in the 53rd minute when Etherington's free-kick sailed over the wall but Robinson parried it to safety.[LNB] Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce decided to reorganise his team and brought on Martin Olsson for El-Hadji Diouf. [LNB]Olsson had settled quickly into the game and fired in a shot from an acute angle that Sorensen was happy to deflect for a corner. [LNB] On the up: Jon Walters celebrates the winner[LNB]However with time beginning to run out former Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari was introduced by Blackburn with Emerton going off. [LNB]Stoke, though, came close to extending their lead in the 78th minute when Jones peeled away from his marker to get on the end of a cross from Etherington - only to head wide.[LNB] Then substitute Ricardo Fuller, who had recovered quickly after dislocating his shoulder at Newcastle, fired wide after a solo run. [LNB]Blackburn kept pushing men forward in the search for an equaliser but were unable to break Stoke down and build on their victory against Blackpool.[LNB] Kenwyne Jones interview: I don't care what people say... I'm good enough!Blackpool boss Holloway says sorry for abusing referee against BlackburnBLACKBURN ROVERS FC
