Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Stoke City - King Hat Trick Knocks Out Hughes' Potters in FA Cup

Blackburn added another Premier League scalp as they romped to a 4-1 win over former manager Mark Hughes’ Stoke City.

A hat trick from Rovers striker Josh King including a five minute double finished off the Potters, who exit the FA Cup at the fifth round. Stoke had to play the second half with ten men as Geoff Cameron got sent off for bringing down King in the area in first half added time.

It was actually the visitors who took the lead when in-form striker Peter Crouch powered home his shot from close range. The shot followed a corner and gave the former England international his third goal in as many games.

Stoke continued to have chances to double their lead. A host of players including Mame Biram Diouf, Mirko Arnautovic and Victor Moses all had chances to add to Crouch’s opener, but all failed to really test Simon Eastwood in the Rovers goal.

Blackburn’s Joshua King was next to take a chance, with his header going just wide of Jack Butland’s goal, however he got his equaliser a few minutes later in similar fashion. He powered a header at goa, with it managing to best Butland and give Blackburn a somewhat deserved equaliser as they grew into the game.

As half time drew near, King was trying to make another opportunity when he was hauled down by Cameron, the Stoke defender was given his marching orders while Rudy Gestede tucked away the resulting penalty to give the home side the lead at half time.

The Ewood Park club came out in the second half all cylinders firing. Five minutes into the half Gestede sent a through ball into King, whose right footed strike flew past Butland and put the Rovers in further control. The Norwegian striker completed his treble five minutes later when he was played in again by Gustede, with King yet again finishing past the young ‘keeper, standing in for number one Asmir Begovic.

Stoke tried to get back into the game but just couldn’t find a way past the solid Rovers backline. It rounds off a miserable week for Potters boss Mark Hughes. His side were humbled by the same scoreline in midweek at Manchester City, another of Hughes’ former clubs.

To make matters worse Marc Muniesa was forced off injured today to add to Hughes’ defensive injury troubles. Currently the Welshman is missing Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters, all whom operate in the defence.

But for Blackburn the cup adventure continues as yet another Premier League club falls to the wayside.

Teams:

Blackburn - Eastwood, Henley, Duffy, Kilgallon, Olsson, Taylor, Cairney, Williamson, Marshall, Gestede, King. Subs - Conway (for Marshall 11), Evans (for Williamson 45), Varney (for King 78)

Stoke - Butland, Cameron, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Bardsley, N'Zonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic, Diouf, Moses, Crouch. Subs - Wilkinson (for Arnautovic 45), Sidwell (for Muniesa 52), Adam (for Moses 67)