Huth helps Stoke beat Blackburn 2-0 in PL

Robert Huth's header and a late goal from Marc Wilson gave Stoke a 2-0 win at Blackburn on Sunday to put early pressure on manager Steve Kean.

Kean was told last week he'll be in charge of the club for the rest of the season after the popular Sam Allardyce was fired by the new owners, Indian poultry company Venky's.

The 43-year-old Kean has plenty of work to do after seeing Blackburn produce virtually nothing in an encounter that featured little entertainment at either side of the field.

Huth's header in the 51st was a rare highlight as he connected with Matthew Etherington's corner shortly after halftime before Wilson converted from 12 yards out in injury time to ensure Stoke moved up to eighth in the Premier League after their third away victory of the season.

Blackburn remained on 22 points after its third home loss of the campaign.

''I think everybody is under pressure when you lose games,'' Kean said. ''But we will be trying to move forward and try and take the good bits out of the game. I hope the fans see that we are positive. We are working hard for each other and there are positives in the play.''

Blackburn was without captain Chris Samba after he criticized Kean's appointment. The manager said that while Samba missed the game because of an ankle injury, he will no longer be captain when - and if - he returns.

''He wouldn't have been captain because at the moment he's looking to possibly get away from the club,'' Kean said. ''So until he can come back and say he's happy to stay then I think Ryan Nelsen will be leading the club. We have to stick together as a bunch of players and staff.''

The first half was a dull affair with the only real chance came in the 13th minute, when Rory Delap's throw-in was flicked goalward by Ryan Shawcross and Matthew Etherington should have scored at the back post but shot wide.

Huth broke the deadlock when he outjumped Mame Biram Diouf at the near post to steer Etherington's corner into the back of the net.

However, the goal did not cause either side to go on the offensive and good scoring chances remained absent.

Kenwyne Jones saw Paul Robinson block his close-range header after 67 minutes while Diouf had one tame effort for the home side.

Stoke grew increasingly nervous towards the end before Wilson converted from 12 yards out in injury time.

''I think we deserved to win,'' Stoke manager Tony Pulis said. ''We created a lot of chances today and the disappointing thing at halftime was that it was 0-0. But in the second half I thought we stepped it up a bit.''