Big Sam back with a bang

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce secured a 3-0 win over Stoke on his return to management.

Allardyce makes a winning start at Ewood Park

New Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce's return to management proved a success as he oversaw a 3-0 victory against Stoke City at Ewood Park. Allardyce's appointment on Wednesday, 24 hours after Paul Ince had been sacked, ended an 11-month absence from the game for the former Bolton and Newcastle chief and he made an immediate impact in his first game in charge. The success ended Rovers' run of six successive defeats in the Premier League, which has left the one-time winners of the competition facing a fight against relegation, and also deservedly secured a first three-point haul in 12 games. Star striker Roque Santa Cruz, who is rumoured to be set for pastures new in the January transfer window, was missing from Allardyce's squad after sustaining a calf strain in training, but the Paraguayan's absence did not show. Rovers took the lead after nine minutes as Benni McCarthy - Santa Cruz's replacement - converted from the penalty spot and Jason Roberts then doubled the advantage shortly after when stabbing home from close range. McCarthy then added a third before the half-hour mark as he tapped in after Roberts had been denied by Stoke shot-stopper Steve Simonsen, who had replaced Thomas Sorensen due to an injury sustained during the warm-up. Stoke had dominated possession in the first half and the pattern continued after the interval, but the Potters could not find a route back as their best chance came late on when Blackburn defender Christopher Samba deflected against his own post. Although the result could not lift Rovers out of the relegation zone it reduced their five-point disadvantage and, more importantly, provided a huge boost for morale. Allardyce, it has to be said, benefited from getting the one break which Ince had been desperately hoping for during his desperate run without a win. In the ninth minute McCarthy played a neat ball around the corner into the penalty area for Morten Gamst Pedersen and he was crudely hacked down by Ibrahima Sonko.

Obstruction

Walton pointed to the spot and McCarthy blasted home his first Premier League goal since 1st November. Samba's obstruction of Ricardo Fuller gave Stoke a free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area but they wasted the opportunity. Despite little pressure, Rovers incredibly were gifted a second in the 18th minute. McCarthy laid off Andre Ooijer's throw to Brett Emerton and his drilled cross to the far post was deflected back into the path of Roberts, who stabbed home. South African McCarthy scored his second in a remarkable opening 27 minutes after good link-up play with Roberts. The striker back-heeled the ball to his partner and when Simonsen could only parry the shot, McCarthy pounced from 12 yards - much to the delight of chairman John Williams who stood up and punched the air in the directors' box. Amdy Faye was booked for a foul on Stephen Warnock in the 33rd minute as Stoke became increasingly ragged. Four minutes before half-time Amdy Faye ballooned a shot over from long range as the visitors tried to claw their way back. Cresswell was cautioned for diving in at Emerton as Stoke's frustration grew at the end of the half.

Miserable

After the break Stoke won two corners in the 49th minute but, for a side who rely on set-pieces, failed miserably with both. Another Whelan corner was easily cleared by Keith Andrews as Blackburn scrapped to hold on to their advantage, with the same Stoke player curling a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide moments later. Robinson then had to dive low to his left to comfortably claim Fuller's glancing header from Higginbotham's cross. Tugay replaced Dunn to a standing ovation before Simonsen pulled off a great save from Pedersen's close-range strike, with Roberts being flagged offside as he followed up the rebound. Roberts should have doubled his tally for the day seconds later but the goalkeeper deflected the shot wide. From the resulting corner McCarthy came within a post's width of scoring his hat-trick, his last contribution before being replaced by Matt Derbyshire in the 79th minute. Fuller then fired wide after Robinson had pulled off another good save, this time from substitute Seyi Olofinjana. The England goalkeeper's performance, allied to that of the two strikers and a competent display from Dunn in midfield, will have given Allardyce great hope for their relegation battle.

Blackburn Rovers	Team Statistics	Stoke City
3	Goals	0
3	1st Half Goals	0
8	Shots on Target	2
2	Shots off Target	8
2	Blocked Shots	3
3	Corners	7
13	Fouls	12
3	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
64.8	Passing Success	71
24	Tackles	9
79.2	Tackles Success	88.9
51.5	Possession	48.5
44.2	Territorial Advantage	55.8