Potters ease to victory

Stoke continued their unbeaten start to the new year with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over 10-man Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium.

Full-back Danny Higginbotham produced the finish of a striker in the ninth minute as he sent a first-time volley past Paul Robinson before Mamady Sidibe made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time.

Matthew Etherington then added a third in the second half shortly after Chris Samba had been sent off for pulling back Ricardo Fuller.

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