FA Cup

[monks data]

FA Cup | Fifth Round

Feb 14, 2015 at 3pm UK

Blackburn Blackburn Rovers
4-1
Stoke Stoke City

King (36', 50', 55'), Gestede (45' pen.)

FT(HT: 2-1)

Crouch (10')

Half-Time Report: Blackburn Rovers take lead in first-half stoppage time against 10-man Stoke City

By Kristian Johnson, Reporter

Published: February 14 2015 | 15:57

Last updated: February 16 2015 | 00:21

Rudy Gestede fires Blackburn Rovers into a 2-1 lead over 10-man Stoke City on the stroke of half time.

Blackburn Rovers hold the advantage over Stoke City in their FA Cup fifth-round tie after Rudy Gestede's stoppage-time penalty gave them a 2-1 lead at the break.

Following a scrappy start, Peter Crouch put Stoke into a 10th-minute lead as he reacted quickly to a loose ball inside the box and lashed it into the roof of the net.

Stoke City's English striker Peter Crouch (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup fifth round football match against Blackburn Rovers on February 14, 2015 © Getty Images

Crouch was again involved seven minutes later as he nodded the ball down to Mame Biram Diouf, who forced Simon Eastwood into a strong save.

Moments later, Marko Arnautovic lashed a shot into the side-netting as Stoke dominated the opening proceedings.

However, the Potters were fortunate to not concede in the 20th minute as Joshua King sent a shot onto the top of the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Diouf then squandered a good opportunity to double Stoke's lead as he sliced his close-range effort wide and was made to pay as King sent an instinctive glancing header into the back of the net to equalise.

Blackburn striker Joshua King (L) scores their first goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match against Stoke City on February 14, 2015 © Getty Images

Philipp Wollscheid cleared off the line as Blackburn penned Stoke inside their own box for the final few minutes of the half, but the visitors eventually crumbled two minutes into stoppage time.

Geoff Cameron brought down Gestede and the forward dusted himself down to slam the ball into the back of the net as to hand Blackburn the lead, with the American sent off to make matters worse for Stoke.