Adam Forshaw scored his third goal in ten years, helping Blackburn move closer to Championship survival with a 1-1 draw against 10-man Stoke City. Forshaw, a former Leeds and Middlesbrough midfielder, gave Rovers the lead in the 21st minute with his first goal since February 2025. However, Stoke City equalized in the 56th minute through Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
The match saw Stoke finish with a man down after Ash Phillips was dismissed for a second bookable offense three minutes from time. The result leaves Blackburn four points above the relegation zone, with Stoke fans accustomed to facing former managers, including Michael O'Neill, who won 55 of his 143 games in charge of the Potters before being sacked in 2022.
O'Neill's side took a deserved lead in the first half, with Forshaw scoring a rare goal. Stoke responded well, with Sam Gallagher seeing a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Eiran Cashin. The home side started the second half positively and were rewarded with their equalizer through Rak-Sakyi. Despite a late chance for substitute Lamine Cisse, Stoke couldn't find a winner.
Stoke manager Mark Robins reflected on the fans' disappointment, emphasizing the need for Championship-ready players and patience in the process. Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill expressed satisfaction with the point, highlighting the difficulty of the match and the importance of every point in their survival bid.