Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Stoke City

Blackburn and Stoke battle to goalless draw

Blackburn were hoping to break into the top half of the table for the first time this season with a win but in truth neither team really did enough to deserve victory in a game of few chances.

Dean Whitehead and Liam Lawrence both had chances in a dour first half but both efforts were saved by Paul Robinson.

In a more entertaining second period, Blackburn started the stronger and would have had the lead shortly before the hour but for the width of the post. Pascal Chimbonda's flick from El Hadji Diouf's corner landed and Stephen N'zonzi's feet, but the Frenchman's effort hit the upright.

James Beattie then had a chance to score against his old club, but he somehow scooped over from 6 yards after Ricardo Fuller fired across the box.

Blackburn could have claimed victory in the final minute when a quickly taken short corner was crossed by Morten Gamst Pedersen for Christopher Samba but his header went agonisingly wide.

Both sides sit relatively comfortably in mid-table and will welcome the clean-sheet, but both will need to do better next time out if they want to pick up points against Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.