Tony Mowbray’s men had been aiming to make it four successive home wins in the league for the first time since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

But Jack McGlynn’s clever free kick and an unfortunate own goal condemned Rovers to back-to-back defeats.

Andri Gudjohnsen pulled one back late on to continue his purple patch in front of goal and set up a nervy finish.

Gudjohnsen thought he had found a dramatic equaliser at the death, but it was controversially ruled out by the officials and the Potters survived.

Mowbray made two changes from the defeat at Swansea City, with Sam Morsy returning from suspension and Carter slotting into the backline.

Harry Pickering retained his place in the starting line-up despite coming off during the first half at Swansea due to illness.

Moussa Baradji dropped to the bench and Tom Atcheson was missing from the squad. Scott Wharton was named on the bench for the second time this season following his recovery from injury.

Augustus Kargbo was named on the bench again as the winger builds up his sharpness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Yuki Ohashi and Yuri Ribeiro, who both made late cameos at Swansea, were on the bench again.

Stoke boss Mark Robins also made a couple of changes, with Million Manhoef and Maksym Talovierov coming into the side. Bosun Lawal dropped to the bench and Ethan Galbraith missed out through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign.

Ex-Rover George Hirst was named on the bench for the Potters but the fixture came too soon for Sam Gallagher, who is on his way back from a calf issue.

The early stages were end to end, with Carter sending a shot wide from distance before Djibril Soumare curled an effort over the crossbar.

The first real chance fell to Cantwell after Kristi Montgomery had won back possession on the edge of the Stoke box. The skipper tried to bend a shot into the far corner but Johansson made a fine save flying to his left.

Andri Gudjohnsen sent a header wide from a corner and Jayden Fevrier fired wide after a good run drifting in from the right flank.

Carter went for goal again after beating his man outside the penalty area. This time, it was on target but Johansson got across to push it around the post.

Stoke failed to test Balazs Toth during the opening half hour. Luca Bombino sent a dangerous header across goal after meeting Manhoef’s deep cross, but Rovers managed to clear their lines.

Rovers were forced into a change when Alebiosu picked up an injury and couldn’t continue. Gady Beyuku was sent on as his replacement at right-back.

The visitors started to gain control as the first half progressed and they took the lead in bizarre fashion two minutes before the break.

Morsy gave away a free kick out on the left and McGlynn tried an audacious shot when Rovers expected him to swing in a cross. The midfielder couldn’t have caught it any better and despite Toth’s efforts to scramble back and claw it off the line, referee Andrew Kitchen checked his watch and awarded the goal.

Cantwell got in behind the Stoke backline as Rovers searched for an immediate equaliser, but Maksym Talovierov got back to make a vital last-ditch challenge.

Fevrier then picked out Afolayan with a cross, but it was slightly behind the winger and he couldn’t guide his header on target.

Afolayan had another sight at goal with the last kick of the first half, but the former St Pauli man dragged his shot wide of the near post.

Rovers started the second half on the front foot and Afolayan looped a header over the bar from Cantwell’s cross.

At the other end, Carter made a vital block in the box to deny Justin Devenny, who had skipped past Pickering’s initial challenge.

Stoke had a big opportunity to double their lead after Rovers lost possession in a dangerous area and McGlynn picked out Robert Bozenik, who was denied by a smart stop from Toth.

Moments later, Ben Johnson saw a shot deflected just wide of the post as the Potters started to crank up the pressure.

Mowbray made a triple substitution in an attempt to wrestle back control as Augustus Kargbo, Moussa Baradji and Yuri Ribeiro joined the action.

But the second goal came in bizarre fashion. Toth initially made a fine save to deny Manhoef after a good run, but Ribeiro’s clearance hit Baradji and ricocheted into the empty net.

The game appeared to be fizzling out but Rovers pulled one back three minutes from time. Morsy’s shot was pushed back into danger and Gudjohnsen reacted quickest to slot home from close range.

The Iceland international had the ball in the net again just before stoppage time, steering a superb header back across goal into the bottom corner after meeting Beyuku’s cross, but the referee spotted a foul and it was chalked off.

Stoke saw out five minutes of stoppage time and there were boos from the home fans, who felt their team had been denied a deserved point after a spirited late fightback.

The result leaves Rovers’ 14th in the table while Stoke climb to fourth. Mowbray’s men are back at home against West Ham United this weekend.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen