Stoke City 1-2 Blackburn Rovers: Sam Gallagher condemns Michael O'Neill's side to consecutive defeats
- Published
Bradley Dack turns in his 10th goal of the season to put Blackburn ahead
Blackburn made it back-to-back defeats for Michael O'Neill's Stoke after Sam Gallagher's late winner gave the visitors a 2-1 victory.
Bradley Dack scored his 10th goal of the season after 13 minutes to put Rovers ahead at the Bet365 Stadium.
Stoke were much improved after the break and equalised when James McClean's corner struck Corry Evans and went over the line for an own goal.
However, they were not level for long, with Gallagher slotting home the winner from Elliott Bennett's cut-back just three minutes later.
Both sides created openings in the early stages but it was the visitors who took the lead through their top-scorer Dack.
Stewart Downing's deep corner was headed back across goal by Darragh Lenihan and Dack pounced after Tosin Adarabioyo's effort had been blocked.
Stoke struggled to create any openings in response, with an off-target 30-yard effort from Joe Allen showing the home side's frustration.
However, O'Neill's side came out strongly in the second half, with Tom Ince and Sam Clucas both going close.
Their improved performance saw them snatch an equaliser with just nine minutes to go, after McClean's corner caused havoc and crossed the line off the unfortunate Evans.
But they could not cling on to a point and Gallagher's winner handed O'Neill his second defeat in five days, after winning his opening two games in charge.
Blackburn's third win in a row sees them move into the top half of the table, while Stoke remain second from bottom.
Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill:
"We had a lack of belief as an individual and collective and we need to get back to that. We have to have the belief to go on the pitch and show we are capable of playing.
"We are in a fight and that is the reality of it. We are going to have to play under this pressure for the rest of the season and we need to get used to it.
"We need players who are ready to perform physically and mentally and who can deal with the situation."
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was a hard-earned win, but we deserved it. We have found it hard on the road this year, but we don't have negative thoughts away from home.
"If you can retain the ball and make the crowd grumble it can increase the anxiety for Stoke and we did that well.
"We are on a good run at the moment and confidence between the two sides today may have been the difference."
