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.