Blackburn Rovers struck late to hold high-flying Stoke City to a draw at Ewood Park.

Million Manhoef scored early in the second half as the Potters controlled the match.

But they could not find a second goal and Augustus Kargbo levelled with eight minutes remaining.

Mark Robins’ side remain third in the Championship table, while Blackburn ended a run of two straight defeats.

Stoke almost took the lead inside 10 seconds when Sorba Thomas volleyed goalwards from the edge of the area, forcing Balasz Toth into a strong save.

Blackburn then failed to convert two huge chances before the break.

Todd Cantwell dragged a shot wide, before Andre Gudjohnsen failed to put away Ryoya Morishita’s cross from close range.

On the stroke of half-time, Manhoef had a sight of goal but could not test keeper Toth with his low effort.

But the Dutchman made no mistake four minutes after the restart, when his shot was deflected in after he met Thomas’ well-timed through-ball.

Ryan Alebiosu denied Thomas five minutes later as the striker raced through on goal. The defender’s tackle was timed perfectly, but had Thomas looked up he would have spotted Manhoef primed for a tap-in.

Cantwell looked Blackburn’s biggest threat and he gradually began to have more influence on the game, testing keeper Viktor Johansson with a strike from distance.

Johansson was alert again to deny substitute Dion De Neve from a tight angle 13 minutes from time, before Rovers’ Sondre Tronstad fired wide.

Toth denied Manhoef once again as the visitors tried in vain to wrap the game up, and they were punished moments later by Kargbo’s finish from Cantwell’s cross.

Johansson was then called upon once again, denying the Sierra Leone striker a second at the back post.