New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce proved he had the Midas touch as his side stunned Stoke at Ewood Park.

Benni McCarthy scored twice after being recalled to the starting line-up in place of Roque Santa Cruz, who injured a calf in training on Friday, and Jason Roberts, also back in the team, added the other inside the opening half-hour.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a team whose confidence had looked shot to pieces in last week's 3-0 defeat at Wigan, which resulted in the sacking of Paul Ince after only six months in charge.

What was equally impressive was that these were the same players who had managed to score just five goals in their previous eight matches at Ewood Park this season.

The result ended a club record-equalling run of 11 league matches without a victory, which included defeats in their last six. It was also their first clean sheet in 10 games.

Although it could not lift Rovers out of the relegation zone it reduced their five-point disadvantage to three and, more importantly, provided a huge boost for morale.

Allardyce, it has to be said, benefited from getting the one break which Ince had been desperately hoping for during his desperate run without a win.

In the ninth minute McCarthy played a neat ball around the corner into the penalty area for Morten Gamst Pedersen and he was crudely hacked down by Ibrahima Sonko.

Walton pointed to the spot and McCarthy blasted home his first Barclays Premier League goal since November 1.

Samba's obstruction of Ricardo Fuller gave Stoke a free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area but they wasted the opportunity.

Despite little pressure, Rovers incredibly were gifted a second in the 18th minute.

McCarthy laid off Andre Ooijer's throw to Brett Emerton and his drilled cross to the far post was deflected back into the path of Jason Roberts by Shawcross who stabbed home from close range.

McCarthy scored his second in a remarkable opening 27 minutes after good link-up play with Roberts.

The South Africa striker back-heeled the ball to his partner and when Simonsen could only parry the shot McCarthy pounced from 12 yards - much to the delight of chairman John Williams who stood up and punched the air in the directors' box.

It was McCarthy's sixth goal of the season - his fourth in the league - making him the club's top scorer.

Amdy Faye was booked for a foul on Stephen Warnock in the 33rd minute as Stoke became increasingly ragged.

Four minutes before half-time Amdy Faye ballooned a shot over from long range as the visitors tried to claw their way back.

Cresswell was cautioned for diving in at Emerton as Stoke's frustration grew at the end of the half.

After the break Stoke won two corners in the 49th minute but, for a side who rely on set-pieces, failed miserably with both.

Another Whelan corner was easily cleared by Keith Andrews as Blackburn scrapped to hold on to their advantage, with the same Stoke player curling a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide moments later.

Robinson then had to dive low to his left to comfortably claim Fuller's glancing header from Higginbotham's cross.

Tugay replaced Dunn to a standing ovation before Simonsen pulled off a great save from Pedersen's close-range strike, with Roberts being flagged offside as he followed up the rebound.

Roberts should have doubled his tally for the day seconds later but the goalkeeper deflected the shot wide.

From the resulting corner McCarthy came within a post's width of scoring his hat-trick, his last contribution before being replaced by Matt Derbyshire in the 79th minute.

Fuller then fired wide after Robinson had pulled off another good save, this time from substitute Seyi Olofinjana.

The England goalkeeper's performance, allied to that of the two strikers and a competent display from Dunn in midfield, will have given Allardyce great hope for their relegation battle.

Teams:

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton (Simpson 85), Dunn (Kerimoglu 70), Andrews, Pedersen, McCarthy (Derbyshire 79), Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Khizanishvili, Mokoena, Judge.

Goals: McCarthy 9 pen, Roberts 18, McCarthy 27.

Stoke: Simonsen, Shawcross, Sonko, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Delap (Soares 59), Whelan, Amdy Faye (Olofinjana 75), Cresswell, Pericard (Tonge 59), Fuller.

Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Pugh, Davies, Wilkinson.

Booked: Amdy Faye, Cresswell.

Att: 23,004

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).