Boss Jon on a real roll Dahl
GREAT SCOTT:
BEAMING Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson was pleased as punch as his side put misfiring Stoke to the sword.
Scott Wharton’s first goal for nearly a year and late goals from Andrew Moran and Sammie Szmodics saw Rovers put a stop to the Potters’ fivegame unbeaten run.
A comprehensive victory at the bet365 Stadium secured a fourth successive away win, the Lancashire club’s best away record in the top two divisions for 22 years.
“It was a brilliant performance and a brilliant result,” said Tomasson.
“Stoke have been playing really well and hadn’t conceded in their last four games, but we were really positive and created good chances.
“We all know how well we can play football, but the discipline and defending was really good.
“I was really pleased with our attitude, we really frustrated Stoke.”
Defender Wharton gave the visitors the perfect start when he headed home after just four minutes from Moran’s inswinging corner for his first goal since December last year.
And after both sides failed to convert a string of chances, it was Brighton loan midfielder Moran who netted four minutes from time to put the contest to bed.
Championship leading scorer Szmodics rubbed salt into the wound late on.
Potters boss Alex Neil said: “We’ve got to be quicker and sharper at this level, but it wasn’t easy to break them down.” STOKE: Bonham 5; Hoever 5, Mcnally 5, Rose 5, Stevens 5 (Thompson (80) 5); Pearson 6, Burger 5; Leris 5 (Campbell (74) 6), Johnson 5, Bae 5; Gayle 5 (Mmaee (56) 5) BLACKBURN: Wahlstedt 6; Hill 7, Carter 6, S Wharton 6 (Travis (10) 6) Pickering 7; Tronstad 6, A Wharton 6; Moran 8 (Telalovic (90) 5), Szmodics 7 (Sigurdsson (90) 5), Brittain 7 (Leonard (90) 5); Dolan 7 (Garrett (85) 5) STAR MAN: Andrew Moran – The Brighton loan midfielder impressed and grabbed a goal to boot. REF: Andrew Kitchen 7