Stoke City Holds On for Draw Against Blackburn

Blackburn midfielder Adam Forshaw scored his first goal since February 2025, giving his team the lead in the 21st minute. However, Stoke City equalized in the 56th minute with a goal from Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The match ended 1-1, with Stoke finishing with 10 men after Ash Phillips was sent off for a second bookable offense. Forshaw's goal was his third in a decade and only his second since April 2016. Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill, who previously managed Stoke, saw his team take a deserved lead in the first half. The visitors should have been ahead earlier, but Ryoya Morishita failed to hit the target from 16 yards. Forshaw then scored with a delightful curling shot from 20 yards after a counter-attack. Stoke responded well despite a hit-and-miss display, with Sam Gallagher seeing a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Eiran Cashin. Cashin blocked Eric Bocat's shot soon after, and Stoke started the second half positively, earning their equalizer. Rak-Sakyi almost doubled his tally but curled his shot wide. Moussa Baradji retaliated from long distance, but Gavin Bazunu saved comfortably. Substitute Lamine Cisse had a chance to win it for Stoke late on but hit his shot straight at goalkeeper Balazs Toth. Stoke manager Mark Robins discussed fans' disappointment, stating that the team is in a process of improvement and that they cannot expect to go from relegation to promotion without Championship-ready players. Blackburn's Michael O'Neill emphasized that his team must take their current form and belief into the remaining four games to ensure survival.