POTTERS LEFT KICKING

STOKE City are kicking themselves after Augustus Kargbo came off the bench to rescue a point for Blackburn Rovers and almost nick all three.

- Peter Smith

Ashley Phillips heads the ball clear under pressure from Blackburn's Ryan Hedges.

(Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport)

Stoke were ahead thanks to a well-taken goal from Million Manhoef early in the second half and Manhoef might have sealed it going into the closing stages but that time couldn't find a way past Balazs Toth.

Instead, substitute Kargbo seized the moment and he had time to swivel and score the equaliser from close range after sloppy defensive play from the visitors. Kargbo then crashed a shot against the post after Lewis Miller's long throw had bounced through the Stoke area.

It means a third frustrating draw in eight days for Stoke while Blackburn were grateful for a point following back-to-back defeats had dragged them towards the wrong end of the Championship.

Mark Robins said: "I'm disappointed with it but for whatever reason the conditions made it difficult.

"We weren't in control of things with our first touch or decision making on the ball or the type of pass or weight of pass or the final ball was missing. The detail wasn't there on anything. Even the goal we scored went in as a deflection but I'm talking about perfectionists and the game is never like that, they've thrown bodies on the line trying to make it really difficult.

"We had enough of the ball in good areas to make different decisions but we gave it away.