Joshua King hat-trick fires Blackburn Rovers into FA Cup quarter-finals

Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to beat 10-man Stoke City 4-1 this afternoon and book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Rovers fell behind to a Peter Crouch header in the 10th minute, but a hat-trick from Joshua King and a Rudy Gestede penalty ensured Stoke were swept aside.

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The game began sluggishly, but Crouch slammed home the ball from six yards to give the Potters the lead.

Mame Biram Diouf twice went close and Marko Arnautovic lashed a shot into the side-netting as Stoke looked as though they were on course for a comfortable victory.

However, King, who had earlier squandered a good opportunity, levelled for Blackburn with an instinctive glancing header 10 minutes before the break.

Philipp Wollscheid then 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 and hand Blackburn the lead, with the Stoke defender sent off for his apparent professional foul.

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King increased Blackburn's lead five minutes into the second half as he slotted the ball underneath Jack Butland, and completed his hat-trick five minutes later with another calm finish.

Gestede and Corry Evans forced further saves from Butland as Blackburn played with the swagger of a side belying their Championship status.

With 15 minutes remaining, Stoke were denied a penalty as the ball struck the hand of Marcus Olsson on a frustrating afternoon for the Premier League outfit.