Michael O’Neill hails Adam Forshaw’s ‘great goal’ as Blackburn hold Stoke

Michael O’Neill highlighted Adam Forshaw’s telling contribution in relegation-threatened Blackburn’s 1-1 Championship draw at 10-man Stoke.

Forshaw scored only his third goal in 10 years to give Rovers a first-half lead.

But Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s second-half equaliser earned a share of the spoils for the home side.

With four games remaining, Blackburn sit four points above the drop zone after relegation rivals Oxford and Portsmouth grabbed vital victories.

“It was a great goal,” said O’Neill of Forshaw’s collectors’ item. “He has shown in the period I have been here he is still a top player.

“That was a clear example of it.”

Forshaw was substituted in the second half as O’Neill looked to Tuesday’s game at Southampton and next Friday’s home game with leaders Coventry.

“We are surviving on fumes in terms of personnel,” he added. “We have three games in six days which is a lovely schedule the EFL have given us.

“I never like taking Adam off but he was cramping up and there were one or two others like that.”

On Rovers’ chances of survival, the Northern Ireland manager added: “We can’t expect people to do us favours.

“Everyone is in the same boat. They are trying to save themselves.

“But we came to a difficult place and got a point. We are unbeaten in five and must take that form and belief into the remaining four games.

“However, every point is important. We will take it.

“Having been ahead you hope you can protect your lead.

“We rode our luck before half-time and it was a poor goal to lose.

“The reaction, though, after 1-1 was good because it was difficult with the conditions.”

Forshaw curled in a superb right-foot shot from 20 yards after a flowing team move and final assist from Ryan Alebiosu.

It was the 34-year-old midfielder’s first goal since February 2025 and just his third since netting for Middlesbrough in April 2016.

Sam Gallagher was denied an equaliser on his first start of the season by Eiran Cashin’s goal-line clearance. The same player also blocked Eric Bocat’s effort.

Stoke continued to take the game to the visitors in the second half and Rak-Sakyi followed in Million Manhoef’s left wing cross, though there was a strong suspicion of an own goal.

Stoke should have won it late on but Hungarian keeper Balazs Toth saved from Lamine Cisse.

Three minutes from time former Blackburn favourite Ash Phillips was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Stoke boss Mark Robins reacted to fans’ disgruntlement at City’s early season slide from promotion candidates.

“We have to remember where we are at,” he said.

“We can’t go from a game away from relegation (last season) to promotion without Championship-ready players.

“There is disappointment on the back of us having a 12-game spell where we were in the top two.

“It doesn’t finish after 12 games. I could get fed up, really fed up. We were starting to get momentum but that drifts because you lose players to injury.

“I want to roll my sleeves up to make it better. Do not forget we were one game away from relegation.

“People were walking around with ashen faces. Don’t have ashen faces. This is a process. If we are not together you can’t achieve it.

“We didn’t get a grip of the game until they scored. It was a rubbish goal for us to concede.”