Rovers suffered a third successive defeat, without scoring, as they were made to pay for another slow start against Stoke City.

Lewis Baker’s 18th-minute long-range effort proved to be the difference between the sides as Rovers suffered defeat at Ewood Park for the first time this season.

Rovers could have been three goals down at the break, and while they rallied in the second half to dominate possession and territory, but have now gone over five hours of Championship football without a goal.

Stoke, now unbeaten in their last eight league visits to Ewood, defended their goal manfully to earn interim boss Dean Holden a victory, to the delight of the manager-in-waiting Alex Neil who watched from the directors box.

Rovers made three changes from the side beaten at Sheffield United a week ago, with Callum Brittain and Sam Gallagher missing out through injury and Tayo Edun the other to drop out of the team.

Joe Rankin-Costello, Tyler Morton and a first Championship start in 533 days for Bradley Dack were the trio to come in.

It was far from a convincing start from Rovers who were guilty of giving the ball away in risky areas from the off.

Stoke were quick out of the blocks and should have led eight minutes in. Thomas Kaminski put his side in trouble with a poor pass out, but got back quickly enough to smother the shot of Liam Delap before a combination of Daniel Ayala and Harry Pickering got back to stop any attempted follow-ups finding the back of the net.

Joe Rankin-Costello was then booked for pulling down Dwight Gayle when caught on the wrong side, with Kaminski tipped away a dipping Lewis Baker free kick.

Jacob Brown had a shot deflected just wide, before a sprawling Kaminski kept out Aden Flint’s header, all inside the opening 10 minutes.

Dwight Gayle thought he had rewarded the visitors’ strong start with a goal, turning in a Sam Clucas cross from close range, only for the linesman’s flag to cut short his celebrations.

While that was a let-off, the warning signs were there for Rovers who continued to struggle to get a foot-hold in the game.

Ben Brereton took a loose touch in the box, with Ben Wilmot nipping in, but shooting over the top.

The halfway point of the half was reached with Rovers needing to make a change, Sam Szmodics going down for a second half after taking a knock to the head, with Tyrhys Dolan on in his place.  

There was little relief for Rovers who would trail in the 27th minute. They were once again guilty of giving the ball away, Baker lining a shot up from distance which skipped off the turf to beat the dive of Kaminski.

An anxiety was growing at Ewood, not helped by the chances their side were taken when playing out from the back.

They almost punished Stoke for similar 10 minutes before the break, Morton winning the ball to slide in Dack, but his attempts to lift the ball over the advancing Jack Bonham saw his outstretched arm keep it out.

A poorly defended Pickering free kick saw Brereton’s shot blocked by Thompson but Rovers had offered precious little in attack as the continued turnover of possession didn’t help their cause.

Changes at the break were always expected, Tomasson settling on two as Adam Wharton came on for his league debut, with Ryan Hedges returning from injury to regain his place in the side. Rankin-Costello and John Buckley were the two to be replaced.

Hedges immediately made a difference with his energy, the crowd getting into the game for the first time as Brereton snatched at a shot which went wide of the post after linking up with Pickering.

Rovers were beginning to enjoy spells of pressure as the hour mark approached, but still the wait for a clear-cut chance went on.

There was at least some intensity being shown, which the crowd responded to. Hedges did well on the hour mark to get down the left, efforts from Dolan and then Dack excellently blocked as Stoke were forced into some last-ditch defending.

The referee then took centre stage, with both sides having cause for complaint in the space of 30 seconds. First Rovers wanted a penalty as Brereton felt he was bundled over in the box by Wilmot, though nothing was given.

Stoke then wanted a second yellow card for Phillips as he and Delap again tangled, but the referee only awarded a free kick.

There was a little finesse lacking in Rovers’ second half efforts, but they now at least were putting pressure on the Stoke backline.

Dolan failed to hit the target from a promising position on the left edge of the box with 17 minutes remaining.

The pressure was all from Rovers, but that telling touch was evading them, Dolan wanting too many touches in the box which allowed Baker to get back and clear.

Brereton’s free-kick, and Dack’s follow-up were blocked behind after Dolan was tripped on the edge of the box, as Rovers struggled to truly test Bonham.

Their efforts weren’t helped by the lack of advantage played, Hedges wanting the game to be allowed to roll on as he turned home, but not before a foul had been awarded.

Pickering curled over tamely from the free-kick, further adding to the frustrations, with Hedges finding the side-netting with his shot from a Brereton cushioned pass as five minutes were added on.

Brereton had another effort deflected wide in stoppage time, but as a series of set plays came and went, so did their chances of finding that elusive goal.

Rovers: Kaminski, Rankin-Costello (A Wharton, 46), Ayala, Morton, Phillips (Carter, 79), Pickering (Edun, 89), Travis, Buckley (Hedges, 46), Dack, Szmodics (Dolan, 22), Brereton

Subs: Pears, Vale

Stoke: Bonham, Wilmot (Fosu, 69), Fox, Flint, Taylor, Baker, Clucas, Thompson, Gayle (Campbell, 61), Delap, Brown (Wright-Phillips, 88)

Subs: Bursik, Jagielka, Kilkenny, Smallbone