Gritty point puts Pulis in a pickle

MANAGEMENT throws up no end of conundrums, but some are more welcome than others.

Sam Allardyce, for instance, finds himself uneasily weighing up when to return to work at Blackburn after treatment for a heart complaint. Tony Pulis, meanwhile, reluctantly finds himself dealing with continuing gossip that his Stoke side could be heading for Europe after only one defeat in seven games.

“Our aim is to stay in the Premier League for the next three years. That will give us the opportunity to push on,” he said after this dire encounter.

“The big difference now is when it comes to expectations but it is a case of keeping those levels down to a sensible level.

“We have only been in the Premier League for 18 months. You need time. For people to say we are fighting for Europe it is pretty ridiculous.”

Allardyce is resting at home after being discharged from hospital following an angioplasty, a procedure to correct narrowing to one branch of his coronary arteries.

He has missed three games but could be back in charge on Wednesday, depending on medical advice, when Blackburn are at home to Chelsea in a Carling Cup quarter-final tie.

“I am told he is on schedule for this week as expected and hopefully we will see him then,” his assistant, Neil McDonald, said. “I have spoken to him and he is fine. Everyone is pleased that the operation has gone well.”

Blackburn were hoping to chalk up a fifth straight home win in the league and although Steven Nzonzi hit the post with a shot they lacked a cutting edge against Stoke.

Chris Samba could have secured the points in stoppage time but headed wide while Franco Di Santo and Ryan Nelsen saw their efforts blocked by Thomas Sorensen.

There was little to choose between the teams with Blackburn grateful to Paul Robinson for making two superb saves in the first half from Dean Whitehead and Liam Lawrence.

Whitehead squandered another glaring opportunity in the second half as did substitute James Beattie with the game finishing in stalemate.

Blackburn missed the influence of midfielder David Dunn, who came off in the 32nd minute with a calf strain and is now doubtful for the match against Chelsea.

REFEREE: Howard Webb (Yorkshire) 7: A bruising affair was well handled by the officials.

MATCH RATING: * Always had the look of a dud and it did not disappoint.