In a half of very few chances, it would be hardly suprising to read that it was a scoreless first half at Ewood Park.

It was a cagey start from sides, with each cancelling the other out.

Franco Di Santo had the best chance of the early proceedings, after a bit of ingenuity from Brett Emerton.

The Australian flicking the ball over the stoke defence, but after bringing it down Di Santo failed to beat Thomas Sorenson.

Neither side could craft any real chances, with Chris Samba summing up both sides frustrations on 15 minutes. His effort 40 yard effort sailing over the bar.

Soon after Stoke had the best chance of the game. Ricardo Fuller's defence splitting pass finding an onside Dean Whitehead, who saw his effort kept out by Paul Robinson.

Di Santo then had another glorious chance to open the scoring, but headed wide from David Dunn's corner after losing his man.

On the half hour a sour note for Rovers, as talisman Dunn struggled off the field to be replaced by Jason Roberts.

Half chances came and went for both side, and as we approached half time Robinson kept Rovers in it again.

A free-flowing break away from the visitors worked an opening, but the Rovers 'keeper thwarted the opportunity.

At half time no side had found a breakthrough and it went in at 0-0.