Stoke City Holds Off Blackburn to Secure a Draw

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 through Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The match ended 1-1, with Stoke finishing with 10 men after Ash Phillips was sent off. Forshaw's goal was a rare occurrence, as it was only his third in a decade. Stoke manager Mark Robins acknowledged the fans' disappointment but emphasized the need for patience, citing the team's progress from being on the brink of relegation last season. Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill expressed satisfaction with the point, noting that every point is crucial in their fight for survival. The draw leaves Blackburn four points above the drop zone, and they will look to build on their unbeaten run of five games in their remaining four matches.