FA Cup round-up: Blackburn Rovers rock Stoke as King reigns

Another Premier League side has bitten the dust in this season’s FA Cup as Blackburn Rovers knocked out Stoke City to reach the last eight.

And the Championship side had striker Joshua King to thank as he blasted in an excellent hat-trick at Ewood Park in the 4-1 victory.

It had looked like it would be business as usual when Gary Bowyer’s side went behind just ten minutes into the match; Peter Crouch finding the back of the net as the hosts failed to deal with a Potters corner.

But Rovers roared back nine minutes before the break as King nodded the ball home past Jack Butland.

And they grabbed the lead seven minutes into added time at the end of the first half when Rudy Gestede converted from the spot after Geoff Cameron was sent off for pulling back King.

From there, with their man advantage, the Championship side dominated and it was 3-1 on 50 minutes when the impressive King raced onto a long ball and fired beyond Butland.

And the ex-Manchester United forward’s pace told again just ten minutes into the second period as he powered past Steven N’Zonzi before guiding a shot into the bottom corner and put Rovers into the next round.

Elsewhere, Reading also progressed to the next stage of the competition as new signing Yakubu gave them a 2-1 win over high-flying Championship rivals Derby County.

Two first half cautions saw a red card flourished in the direction of debutant Stephen Warnock as the Rams got off to a shoddy start and their woes were compounded when Hal Robson-Kanu gave their opponents the lead after 53 minutes.

On-loan forward Darren Bent did equalise for Steve McLaren’s side but eight minutes from time veteran Nigerian striker Yakubu arrowed home to send Steve Clarke’s Royals through.