Stoke flying high after beating Blackburn

Stoke City moved up into eighth in the Premier League after a 2-0 victory away to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park here on Sunday.

Robert Huth's early second-half header and Marc Wilson's last minute strike sealed victory against a Rovers side who rarely threatened a goal in the first half.

Matthew Etherington should have given Stoke an early lead after a trademark long throw from Rory Delap was flicked-on by Ryan Shawcross.

But the winger's left-foot volley at the back post from barely a yard out went past Paul Robinson's left-hand upright.

A fiery first half saw bookings for Blackburn's Nikola Kalinic and the Stoke duo of Andy Wilkinson and Shawcross but the quality of the match improved after half-time.

Stoke took the lead when former Chelsea defender Huth met Etherington's 51st minute corner with a powerful near-post header.

Blackburn were almost on level terms when Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick went narrowly wide with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic beaten in the flight.

But Stoke carved out chances too, with Robinson saving headers from both Dean Whitehead and Kenwyne Jones.

Rovers spent much of the final quarter pressing for an equaliser but were made to pay for their wasted chances when former Portsmouth star Wilson scored his first Stoke goal with a neat turn and shot after Ricardo Fuller found him in the penalty area.