Two goals from Peter Crouch helped Stoke City claim all three points from their trip to Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.
Hosting Rovers thought they had taken a fourth minute lead when Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner nestled in the net. However, the play was brought back for a foul committed by Rovers striker Yakubu on visiting goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
To make matters worse for Blackburn, England international Crouch broke the deadlock with 17 minutes on the clock following a slip from Rovers' Christopher Samba. The defender's error of judgement afforded Crouch the time to take a touch before sending the ball past Mark Bunn in goal.
Crouch doubled his and Stoke's tally on the stroke of half-time when he curled Matthew Etherington's cross into the top left hand corner of the net.
Rovers battled hard to get back into the match after the restart and their efforts were rewarded in the 69th minute. Stoke failed to clear their lines and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, David Goodwillie got the final touch to score from close range.
Goodwillie's strike partner Yakubu spurned a good chance to draw his side level with 11 minutes remaining when he shot straight at Sorensen from four yards out.
Pedersen then had a chance to restore parity but his 20-yard effort went wide of Sorensen's goal, leaving Rovers bottom of the Premier League table.
Liam Apicella
