Premier League: Blackburn 0 Stoke 2

Stoke City recorded their first top-flight victory at Ewood Park in 45 years, beating the home side with two second half goals.

Goals from Robert Huth and Marc Wilson gave City the points, in a game with few chances for either side.

The Potters started the brighter and a neat passing move gave Rory Delap an early opportunity to put in a dangerous cross, but the chance went begging.

A golden chance to take the lead fell to Tony Pulis’ men after 15 minutes.

Delap’s long throw was headed on by Ryan Shawcross to Matthew Etherington at the far post.

Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson narrowed the shooting angle and Etherington side-footed the ball back across goal and agonisingly wide of the far post.

Stoke looked threatening from set-pieces, so it was no surprise when Huth headed them into the lead from a corner early in the second half.

The German-born defender rose well to meet Etherington’s cross to give the visitors the lead.

Mame Biram Diouf should have done better with the next two chances, however both of his shots lacked sufficient power to threaten Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.

Dean Whitehead and Kenwyne Jones both had chances to extend the lead with their heads, Robinson making a fantastic one-handed save to deny the latter.

Robinson then denied Jones a second time when the ball bounced loose to him in the area, on this occasion saving low at the striker’s feet.

Blackburn turned on the pressure in the final 10 minutes and Begovic was called into action again when he had to turn Grant Hanley’s header around the post for a corner.

Rovers’ hopes of an equaliser ended when substitute Wilson shot from close range to score City’s second in injury time.

The result was Steve Kean’s first defeat since taking over from Sam Allardyce as Blackburn manager and Stoke climbed into the top half of the table.