Stoke City boss Gary Rowett said Rovers showed his side a lesson in fighting spirit after the 3-2 win at the bet365 Stadium.

Rowett was unhappy with his side’s defending for Rovers’ goals scored by Bradley Dack, Danny Graham and Harrison Reed.

There was a late fightback from the Potters which would have brought them level had Saido Berahino not hit the bar with a 93rd minute penalty.

Speaking after the game, Rowett stated: “It’s disappointing when some things happen over and over again.

“Blackburn showed a massive amount of fight and we couldn’t quite play through them as much as we would like to do, but if that’s the case you can come in 0-0 at half-time.

“We have conceded 16 goals this season and with the Blackburn goals included we have made 14 elementary mistakes in those 16 goals.

“I think Blackburn gave us a bit of a lesson late on under pressure when they are throwing bodies around and being aggressive and doing everything they can to stop a goal going in, but we are defensively soft and weak.”

Criticising the goals conceded by his side, Rowett added: “The second goal is a long ball over the top and Ryan (Shawcross) is 20 yards behind everybody else and then decides to step up, which is not something we’ve ever worked on.

“The third goal, the ball runs through the heart of our defence a bit like at West Brom.

“The team, I think, has conceded 68 goals last season and 16 this season, so quite clearly we are not defending consistently enough to give ourselves a base and I’m disappointed I haven’t solved that yet.”

Rowett sent on Peter Crouch midway through the second half, for Benik Afobe, after Berahino was brought on at half-time.

“We get booed for the substitution, but Crouchy came on and changed the game,” he continued.

“We scored the first goal and started to show a little bit more aggression and desire.

“Crouchy, if he can direct his header an inch away from the goalkeeper’s shoulder then it’s 3-3.

“We then get a penalty and I’m not being critical of Saido, Benik (Afobe) has gone off, but if you pick the ball up you are then responsible to find the net.”