Sam Gallagher hit a late winner to give Blackburn a 2-1 victory at struggling Stoke.

It looked like the visitors had chucked the points away when goalkeeper Christian Walton scored an own goal with nine minutes to go.

But Gallagher slotted home following a brilliant counter-attack minutes later to win it for Rovers.

City enjoyed good spells of first-half possession but lacked quality in the final third and struggled to create clear-cut chances.

And it was a similar story in the second half as Stoke failed to show the ruthlessness needed in front of goal.

The Potters enjoyed a solid opening with Walton getting down to keep out a Tom Ince shot after five minutes.

Adam Armstrong failed to get any force behind his shot after nine minutes as Blackburn started to take charge.

Rovers deservedly hit the front when Bradley Dack pounced after Tosin Adarabioyo had a shot cleared off the line following Stewart Downing's 13th-minute corner.

Cameron Carter-Vickers could only find the stands with an attempted 23rd-minute cross as the home fans began to vent their frustrations.

Joe Allen skied a long effort well over on the half-hour mark, before Ince failed to make connection with a header while under pressure.

Sam Clucas headed well over four minutes later as the Potters continued to enjoy a good spell of possession.

Corry Evans headed a dangerous Ryan Woods cross behind for a Stoke corner after 43 minutes as Rovers continued to get pushed back.

Ince curled a powerful shot just wide of the goal two minutes into the second half after finding space on the end of the box.

A diving Walton brilliantly pushed away a Sam Vokes header after 49 minutes as City stepped up the tempo.

Ince scuffed a shot from close range on the hour mark after a good run by Carter-Vickers created an opening.

Adarabioyo sliced a clearance over his own crossbar on 64 minutes, before Clucas lashed an effort wide from long range minutes later.

Stoke were shouting for a penalty after 69 minutes when James McClean's cross appeared to be handled in the box.

Mame Diouf saw an effort brilliantly saved by Walton before his rebound was cleared off the line by Darragh Lenihan after 80 minutes.

The Rovers rearguard was finally breached when Walton made a mess of the resulting corner and bundled the ball into his own net.

But the visitors restored their advantage when the unmarked Gallagher turned home Elliott Bennett's cross with six minutes to go.

What the managers said...

Stoke's Michael O'Neill: "It was not a good first half for us, we were a yard short and short on quality as well. We clawed our way back into it with more intensity and energy, but it was a poor second goal to concede. We did not defend the counter attack well and it cost us the game.

"We had a lack of belief as an individual and collective and we need to get back to that. We have to have the belief to go on the pitch and show we are capable of playing. We are in a fight and that is the reality of it. We are going to have to play under this pressure for the rest of the season and we need to get used to it."

Blackburn's Tony Mowbray: "It was a hard-earned win, but we deserved it. When they got the equaliser you could feel what the crowd could do. Stoke were lifted and you have some fears. We have found it hard on the road this year, but we don't have negative thoughts away from home.

"We have lost to Leeds, Fulham and West Brom away and there is no disgrace in that."