Premier League - Stoke record vital win

Eurosport - Sat, 16 May 14:16:00 2009

Liam Lawrence struck late on to earn Stoke City a vital 1-0 win at home to fellow Premier League strugglers Blackburn Rovers.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Stoke City Thomas Sorensen Liam Lawrence - 0

The midfielder scored with a firm shot that beat Rovers keeper Paul Robinson at his near post 15 minutes from time to secure a victory which leaves Tony Pulis's men just a single point away from the all-important 40-point mark in the table.

The result was harsh on Sam Allardyce's side, who dealt well with Stoke's bombardment of set-pieces throughout, but ultimately the result leaves them teetering on the edge of the relegation zone with just five matches left to play in the league.

Stoke were the livelier of the two sides in the opening exchanges, with James Beattie and Matthew Etherington both going close to scoring an early goal. First Beattie unwittingly deflected a Glenn Whelan drive from the edge of the box marginally over the crossbar, then a minute later Etherington just failed to get a telling touch on a dangerous cross across the six-yard box from Ricardo Fuller.

While Rovers settled in defence after those scares, they struggled to create much in attack as Benni McCarthy was left isolated on his own up front. Still, they almost took the lead after 16 minutes when Abdoulaye Faye headed a hopeful ball forward from Blackburn skipper Ryan Nelsen towards his own net. Only an alert catch from keeper Thomas Sorensen prevented the defender from scoring an embarrassing own-goal.

The only other chance of note in the first half came from a corner 25 minutes in, when Stoke's Danny Higginbotham headed wide from a Lawrence delivery. A better connection would almost certainly have given the hosts the lead.

After a cagey opening to the second half the game burst into life when Lawrence was denied by an excellent save by Robinson on 54 minutes. The midfielder arrowed a half-volley towards the top corner of the goal from the edge of the Rovers box on the right, but the former England keeper tipped the ball over the bar expertly.

Two minutes on, Lawrence was in the thick of the action again as his deep cross from the right was headed inches wide by Etherington.

And it was that man again who made the match's crucial contribution on 75 minutes when he latched on to a James Beattie flick-on in the area to turn past Gael Givet and fire past Robinson to send the Britannia Stadium faithful wild and, in all likelihood, guide Stoke towards another season of Premier League football.

Ben Phillips / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. we may not play the best or the prettiest football in­ the EPL but look where we are compared to the bigger­ clubs of the EPL e.g castle blackburn­ sunderland boro pompey and whoever else is below us ­ even man city below stoke . probably only until later­ today if they beat brom .. maybe if team took a page­ out of stokes book of football they wouldnt be down­ there fighting for survival... why cant you just say­ well done to stoke instead of critisising the way we­ play .. :)

    From up the potters :), on Sun 19 Apr 7:20AM

  2. Why Rovers lost many matches:
    Their manager Sam does­ not whimges and complaing in order to motivate the lads­ as other managers do

    From Michael, on Sat 18 Apr 8:46PM

  3. Well done stoke; it ain't pretty but it is­ effective.
    To my friend 'theapeofdeath'; i mean­ you all no harm, i am merely engaging in banter - well­ apart from the naughty missile incident. Stoke fans you­ all need to take a bow because i agree with your­ manager, it is you who have kept your team in the­ Premier League. I do hope we can engage in more banter­ next season, but i fear not as i may well be more­ concerned with the Championship. So stoke fans, i bid­ you farewell and good luck for the rest of the season!!

    From cameron w, on Sat 18 Apr 8:32PM

  4. we dont care who dos'nt like us so we are the­ mighty mighty riproaring potters. we are staying up

    From malcolm c, on Sat 18 Apr 7:34PM

  5. whos this cameronw is he amanc @#$% fan who thinks they­ are the only team on the planet. i hate them with a­ passion and will never support them even in a big final­ which i hope the lose to evertn tomorrow.

    From malcolm c, on Sat 18 Apr 7:30PM

  6. Long throws + corners + thugs + stupid hat = WE ARE­ STAYING UP
    YOU ALL HATE US WE DONT CARE,

    From Chris, on Sat 18 Apr 6:26PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    All Stoke bring to the premiership is long throws,­ corners, a bunch of thugs and a manager who wears a­ stupid hat.

    From Chris, on Sat 18 Apr 6:15PM

  8. thats the answer to why big sam needs to worry about­ team tatics and not what happened a week ago at­ anfield!tough luck and well done stoke.see you next­ year in premiership.

    From jvrad71, on Sat 18 Apr 6:14PM

  9. Yeah, shame it didn't hit the Scumcastle player­ where it hurts.

    From rhyshall21, on Sat 18 Apr 6:13PM

  10. cameron is stupid

    From izzar a, on Sat 18 Apr 6:04PM

  11. Cameron W you should not make sweeping statements­ stating that Stoke fans are thugs. I'm sure the­ majority of Stoke fans would not condone the throwing­ of objects onto the pitch. Try to be more objective in­ future. Well done Stoke another 3 points in the bag! ­ No stopping the potters now!!

    From S P, on Sat 18 Apr 5:46PM

  12. anyway cameron w . i luvs yer anyway ,give me a hug

    From Neil, on Sat 18 Apr 5:25PM

  13. people like you cameron w have given stoke grief the­ moment they enterd the prem .and when they doing well­ you still post rubbish comments .give it rest man­ it's all football.

    From Neil, on Sat 18 Apr 5:24PM

  14. stoke won cameron w so you comment on that

    From Neil, on Sat 18 Apr 5:15PM

  15. theapeofdeath
    stoke city 'fan' hurls­ potentially lethal object at Newcastle United player­ (could easily have put his eye out) - can you please­ comment on this matter? This is fact, and not s(hit) by­ the way; so please, please indulge me.

    From cameron w, on Sat 18 Apr 1:10PM

  16. cameron w every week you post @#$%

    From Neil, on Sat 18 Apr 11:14AM

  17. 2.0 stoke

    From thompson287, on Sat 18 Apr 9:57AM

  18. It will be a war of the average kick and rush. Only the­ top 4 or 5 teams can play skillful fast football. But­ what fans Stoke have! for their sake I hope they­ win...Come on City

    From Tony B, on Sat 18 Apr 9:34AM

  19. to post 4 my dad must of filled yuor muppit in back in­ the good OLD DAYS A '''''' U R­ THE JOCKER UP THE POTTERS

    From staceyjames717, on Fri 17 Apr 8:51PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Doesn't look as though it will happen this season,­ but please, please, please let stoke be relegated next­ season - they're a joke . . . and their fans are­ thugs.

    From cameron w, on Fri 17 Apr 8:19PM
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