Blackburn Rovers' run of games without a goal stretched to four as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Stoke City.

That scoreline only tells part of the story though as John Esutace's side did everything but find the net on a bonkers night at Ewood Park.

Blackburn dominated the first half but didn't make their dominance count. Yuki Ohashi was twice denied by Victor Johnasson whilst Ryan Hedges was also denied by a last-ditch block when through on goal.

It was beginning to feel like the team were cursed and a cruel twist in the script was to come. Million Manhoef had already had one decent opportunity for Stoke but hit Aynsley Pears from close range.

That was a far easier chance than the one he then went on to convert. The forward fired in a powerful strike from the edge of the area to put the visitors into a fairly undeserved lead.

They could've doubled that advantage on the counter-attack shortly after but Pears made a brilliant save to deny Manhoef. That could've been decisive but turned out immaterial.

Many Championship neutrals felt Stoke had signed the best goalkeeper in the window when Johnasson signed. He showed exactly why with a string of unbelievable saves.

Tyrhys Dolan and Andi Weimann were both denied by wonderful saves. Makhtar Gueye then headed over from a few yards, powering his effort down into the floor and over the bar. It was ridiculous that Rovers hadn't scored and were behind.

Any hope of an onslaught in the final 10 minutes were ended when Stoke got a penalty. Bae Junho was fouled by Danny Batth and Tom Cannon stepped up to seal the points.

Midweek league matches have not been a happy occasion for Blackburn Rovers in 2024. Prior to kick-off, they were winless, drawing three and losing four of the seven since their last victory, a 2-1 triumph against Bristol City in December.

However, on the flip side, back-to-back Ewood Park reverses have been a rarity, despite how poor the home form was last season. You have to go back to November last year, almost a full 12 months, for the last time that happened. That was a 2-1 Friday night reverse against Preston North End, having lost 1-0 to Swansea City beforehand.

Eustace made three changes with a quick turnaround at Cardiff City on the horizon. One of those was enforced, with Owen Beck missing out through injury. 

Harry Pickering, Callum Brittain and Weimann came in, with both full-backs switching and Dolan dropping to the bench. With Lewis Baker also indelible, it meant Academy product Matty Litherland was named on the bench, 24 hours after scoring for the Under-21s at Rochdale from centre-back.

Rovers were, of course, trying to break their duck of failing to score in their last three outings. They came close early on when the two full-backs combined with a quick switch of play, allowing Brittain to cross but Yuki Ohashi's goal-bound shot was blocked.

Whilst there wasn't the change of shape that some had called for, Rovers did change their build-up pattern. They reverted to the 3-4-2-1 shape with Pickering playing as a third centre-back, which allowed Brittain to advance on the opposite side. 

Perhaps most notably, it was Cantwell in the number 10 and he was pulling the strings. First, a lovely ball over the top for Ohashi - denied by Johnasson - before a quick dip to leave his man for dead and a stylish outside-of-the-foot pass, Ohashi just offside this time.

The balance looked better, there was more creativity and a deserved opening goal felt a matter of when, not if. 

Ryan Hedges raced clean through on goal, only to be caught up and have his shot blocked by the returning Ash Phillips, and Ohashi then had a header parried away by Johansson. It then started to feel as though other forces might be at play.

There was very little to grumble about in the first half other than Rovers failing to make their good play count for a goal. It would've been a crying shame if they'd gone in-behind but that was almost the case.

The ball broke kindly for Enda Stevens and he picked out Manhoef but his shot was straight at Aynsley Pears with the whole right side of the goal to aim at. A big opportunity but the only one Stoke had fashioned.

Rovers continued to knock on the door in the second half but found the towering Swede in the way. He denied Lewis Travis from range with a fine one-handed save.

But the sucker-punch had felt like it might be in the script for most of the night. A quick Stoke counter-attack, the ball harmlessly recycled to the edge of the box and whack. 0-1.

A fantastic strike from Manhoef, firing the ball powerfully into the bottom corner past Pears. If he should've done better with the first, he made up for it with this one.

Rovers had not played badly but were being punished for not taking their chances. It was a goal from nothing but Stoke soon threatened again and had arguably an even better chance.

It was Manhoef again after a lucky break of the ball put Stoke in a three vs two attack. The ball was fed to him but Pears made a brilliant save to deny him and keep his side in the game.

Eustace's side continued to knock on the door as they passed 400 minutes without finding the net. It felt like they were cursed as substitute Dolan curled a shot that looked destined for the top corner, only for Johansson to pull off a sublime save.

The Stoke number one again kept them in the game with another miraculous save. Weimann met Batth's header and he was again denied from close range.

But the biggest sitter of the night came from Gueye. The big striker, just off the bench, was picked out with a perfect cross from close range, only to head it into the ground and over the bar.

Rovers then got a final kick in the teeth as Batth was judged to have fouled Bae in the box. Cannon stepped up and scored the penalty, ending any real chance of a comeback.

It was a genuinely puzzling night at Ewood. Rovers did everything but score and didn't deserve to lose. They lost against Sheffield United because they carried no attacking threat and were out-clased.

Against Stoke, they missed chances, met a goalkeeper in inspired form and were twice sucker-punched. A night to forget which will leave Eustace scratching his head.