Nelsen is caught late by Cresswell. That was a clear sign of frustration from the Stoke player.

Four minutes of stoppage time will be played at the end of this game.

Soares does really well to beat Warnock before his cross is placed wide of the post by Cresswell.

Allardyce will be more than happy with how things have gone in his first game as a manager for 11 months. There is still lots of work to be done though.

The ball is played into the path of Pedersen by Tugay, but Shawcross is there to end any chance of a shot on goal.

Presuming Blackburn go on to win this game, it will end a run of six league defeats on the trot.

Stoke's poor run away from home looks set to continue today as time is running out for them to get back in this one.

Stoke nearly get themselves a goal, but Fuller fires the ball wide after Robinson had saved Olofinjana's powerful shot.

Long ball forward from Stoke is flicked on by Fuller only for Nelsen to hack the ball away. It just hasn't been Stoke's day.

Soares breaks forward for Stoke, but his cross is headed away well by Andre Ooijer.

Another chance for the home side goes begging as McCarthy fires a shot against the post. That was nearly his hat-trick!

Roberts has the chance to make it 4-0, but after being played through he can't beat Simonsen.

Pedersen forces a decent save from Simonsen after being played through by Tugay. He was offside anyway though.

Corner for Stoke is taken deep by Whelan and it falls to Tugay who hacks the ball away. Not enough has come from Stoke's corners today.

McCarthy makes his way into the Stoke penalty area, but his cross doesn't quite find the waiting Brett Emerton.

Cresswell finds Tonge in some space and his cross looks dangerous, but is eventually dealt with by Nelsen.

Free kick for the home side is wasted by Pedersen as he blasts the ball into the stands. Surely he should have crossed and not tried to score?

All credit to the Stoke fans today. They haven't stopped singing despite trailing for the majority of the match.

A neat passing move from Stoke results in Higginbotham's cross being headed into the arms of Robinson by Fuller.

The resulting corner is cleared easily by Stoke and Blackburn are unable to extend their lead.

Blackburn push forward for the first time in a while and Pedersen's cross from the right is headed behind by Higginbotham.

Christopher Samba aims to get a Blackburn move started, but his pass goes straight out of play. That was awful!

Stoke will be hoping that these changes can make them more clinical as they need to get a goal soon to have any chance.

The Blackburn fans are really getting behind their team now and are enjoying being ahead.

Free kick is taken by Whelan for Stoke, but his curling effort goes just over the bar. Not a bad effort from the youngster.

Another corner for the away side fails to make it past the first defender. That has happened way too many times as far as Stoke are concerned.

Tony Pulis may well consider changes soon. Michael Tonge or Tom Soares could be introduced to shake things up a bit.

The longer this game goes on without a goal for Stoke, the more likely it is that Blackburn will go on to record a more than comfortable victory.

Dunn tries his luck this time, but his ambitious effort goes straight into the arms of Sorenson.

Roberts gets a chance to shoot at goal, but his powerful effort is blocked. Decent start to the second half.

The next corner for Stoke is dealt with easily by Blackburn this team as Nelsen heads the ball away at the near post.

Corner for the visitors is headed over the bar by Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye. That was an excellent chance and he should have scored.

Speaking of Delap, he collects the ball on the right hand side but is tackled well by Andre Ooijer who clears the danger.

It is worth noting that although Rory Delap is in the Stoke team today, he is unable to take any throw ins because of a shoulder injury.

Early free kick for the away side is comfortably dealt with by Warnock. They need to be more threatening than that.

Stoke will feel that if they can get one goal quickly, there is no reason why Blackburn won't get nervous about holding onto their lead.

Whelan has a go from distance this time, but much like Faye, his effort never looks like troubling Robinson in the Blackburn goal.

Pedersen finds some space on the right wing and his powerful cross just misses the waiting McCarthy. Good intentions though.

Amady Faye tries his luck from long range, but it goes high and wide of the target. What a poor effort.

Stoke would love to get themselves a goal before the break, it would give them some real hope in the second half.

Sonko's throw into the penalty area worries Blackburn, but they manage to scramble the ball away eventually.

It must be said that neither team has been fantastic so far today. Nevertheless, Stoke have been made to pay for their defensive errors.

Warnock collects the ball after Sonko's clearance, but he fails to create anything for his side on this occasion.

Prior to this game, it has been three points out of the last 33 avaliable for Blackburn. This would be a welcome win!

Stoke are actually getting rather frustrated now as Cresswell's free kick is way too heavy for the waiting players in the penalty area.

The game has gone rather quiet now and this will suit Stoke who can't afford to fall further behind.

Blackburn had averaged a goal per game before today's match. What a change from normality for them!

Stoke will be wondering if they have the ability to get into this one now - surely they need a response soon?

Danny Higginbotham launches a long ball forward, but Robinson does well to claim it under pressure from two Stoke players.

The ball falls to Ricardo Fuller in a dangerous position, but he can't get the ball under control and the attack is ended.

It is amazing what difference a new manager can make on a team - Blackburn are looking very confident now.

If the score stays the same today, it will mean that Blackburn have kept their first clean sheet in 9 games.

Stoke are still passing the ball around well as Nelsen is forced to head away a dangerous cross from Cresswell.

This is turning out to be a very familiar story for Stoke though as they have not won in 29 top-flight matches away from home.

Stoke will wonder how they are behind in this game as they have probably been the better side so far.

It has to be said that Ryan Shawcross should take some of the blame for that goal, he gave the ball away at a crucial time.

The home side push forward again, but this time it is Stephen Warnock who watches his cross avade all of his team mates.

David Dunn launches a Blackburn attack and finds Pedersen on the right hand side, but his cross is too close to Simonsen who collects the ball.

Stoke are piling on the pressure now and Blackburn are finding them hard to cope with. No clear cut chances for the away side though.

Another corner for the away side is, yet again, comfortably headed away at the near post. Glenn Whelan will be disappointed with his delivery.

McCarthy will be pleased that he managed to get on the score sheet today as it is his 100th game in a Blackburn shirt.

Corner for the away side is headed away comfortably at the near post. Stoke have responded well to going behind though.

Stoke go straight down the other end and Richard Cresswell manages to get a cross in, but Ryan Nelsen hacks the ball away.

The home side win a penalty when Amady Faye brings down Morten Gamst Pedersen in the area. No arguments there.

From the resulting corner, Paul Robinson is forced to back track and punch the ball away after a lofted ball into the box.

The ball falls to Vincent Pericard inside the penalty area who proceeds to fire a shot towards goal that is deflected wide.

Steve Simonsen actually starts the game for Stoke ahead of Thomas Sorensen after the latter picked up an injury in the warm-up.

Ibrahima Sonko's long throw towards the near post is defended well by Blackburn. Neither team has settled as yet.

Today's game sees the team with the worst home record this season (Blackburn) take on the team with the worst away record (Stoke).

The atmosphere inside the ground is fantastic today as the home fans hope for a good start for their new manager.

Blackburn push forward straightaway, but Jason Roberts misses Benni McCarthy's pass to prevent him getting a shot in at goal.