Blackburn Rovers moved closer to ensuring their Championship survival with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against 10-man Stoke City. Adam Forshaw, who had not scored in nearly a decade, gave Rovers the lead in the 21st minute with a beautifully curled shot from 20 yards.
However, Stoke City equalized in the 56th minute through Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The home side finished the match with a man down after Ash Phillips was sent off for a second bookable offense with just three minutes left to play. Despite the draw, Rovers remain four points above the relegation zone and are unbeaten in their last five matches. Stoke City manager Mark Robins acknowledged the fans' disappointment but emphasized the need for patience, while Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill was pleased with the point, citing the difficulty of the match and the importance of every point in their survival bid.