Rovers are once again nervously looking over their shoulders after Liam Lawrence scored the only goal of the game to settle a tense affair at the Britannia Stadium.

After a first half that was instantly forgettable, the only goal of the game came with 15 minutes remaining, Lawrence latching onto Beattie's header to force the ball past Robinson.

Whilst both sets of supporters tried their best to liven up this encounter, there was little to cheer the 3000 travelling Rovers fans, with Thomas Sorensen rarely tested in the Stoke goal.

The defeat sees Rovers drop down a place to 17th in the table, three points ahead of the teams below them. The game in a week's time at home to Wigan Athletic now takes on huge significance.

Before the game Sam Allardyce made three changes from the side that had tasted defeat at Anfield last time out. Benni McCarthy, Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf all returned to the starting line-up after being absent seven days ago.

Tugay and Keith Treacy dropped out of the 18, whilst David Dunn was named amongst the substitutes.

For the home side, Tony Pulis named the same starting eleven that had drawn 1-1 against Newcastle United.

Stoke were quick out of the traps with Rovers' goal threatened within 90 seconds of the start. From a Rory Delap throw, the clearance found Glenn Whelan who shot through the crowded area, the ball deflected off former Rover James Beattie, but thankfully the ball went over the bar.

But that was as good as it got for long spells in the opening half, both sets of fans doing their best to raise their teams, making for a tremendous atmosphere.

Rovers first threatened just past the quarter hour when a long ball forward towards Benni McCarthy was almost diverted into the back of the net by Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye, his blushes were saved by Thomas Sorensen who saved his back-header one-handed.

Ryan Nelsen drilled an effort wide of goal, whilst Danny Higginbotham glanced a header wide at the other end. The home side saw claims for penalties waved away by referee Howard Webb after Beattie and Fuller both went to ground in the area.

On the stroke of half-time Benni McCarthy tried a spectacular volley from distance, but the ball flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Rovers threatened at the start of the second half when Benni McCarthy played in Stephen Warnock, but his cutback was cleared by Sorensen, that was a rare forward foray for Rovers in the Stoke penalty area as the home side, whilst certainly not dominating the game, had the better territorial advantage.

It took until the 55th minute for a first shot at goal to force either goalkeeper to make a save. Samba, under pressure from Beattie and facing his own goal, could only clear as far as Liam Lawrence on the right of the area, the Stoke man let fly forcing Robinson to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar one-handed.

A swift break from the home side a minute later saw Lawrence turn provider. His deep cross finding the fast arriving Matthew Etherington but the former West Ham man couldn't direct his header on target.

Sensing Rovers needed to redress the balance, Allardyce threw on Carlos Villanueva for Benni McCarthy but it was the home side who were to grab the all-important first goal with just fifteen minutes remaining.

Danny Higginbotham capitalised on a misplaced pass by Keith Andrews before sending over a ball to the edge of the area where James Beattie headed on to Liam Lawrence on the right corner of the area, he jinked inside Gael Givet before beating Paul Robinson with a shot that just trickled in despite the best of efforts from the Rovers' number one's best.

David Dunn was brought on for Mokoena, whilst Chris Samba was thrown up front to add more threat. But despite a few hopeful balls into the area and a couple of blocked efforts, Rovers failed to threaten the Stoke goal, that was the story of the whole game.

STOKE CITY: Sorensen, Wilkinson (sub Kelly 50 mins), Faye (c), Shawcross, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Whelan, Delap, Etherington (sub Sonko 88 mins), Beattie (sub Cresswell 86 mins), Fuller.

Subs: Simonsen (GK), Olofinjana, Pugh, Camara.

ROVERS: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen (c), Givet, Andrews, Mokoena (sub Dunn 81 mins), Warnock, Pedersen, Diouf, McCarthy (sub Villanueva 69 mins).

Subs: Bunn (GK), Grella, Khizanishvili, Olsson, Doran.

Booked: Wilkinson, Faye, Fuller (Stoke), Warnock (Rovers).

Attendance: 27,500