Stoke star Dean Whitehead makes no apologies for Blackburn bore draw

Dean Whitehead has refused to apologise for Stoke's no-score bore against Blackburn.

It unsurprisingly was last up on Match of the Day and "not really a thriller" was how presenter Gary Lineker summed it up.

Whitehead couldn't care what Lineker and the critics say and claimed the result was a valuable point for Stoke.

"I know people will say this was the last game on Match of the Day and all that negative stuff, but I think we played some good football out there and this is a good point for us," said the midfielder, who is suspended for Saturday's clash with Arsenal after picking up his fifth booking.

"It's all about getting the points. If you can do that in a good manner and entertain, then fair enough. But if not, it doesn't matter.

"We set up to be solid and we were solid at the back, solid all over the park. We try to make it difficult for teams and on the break, we're dangerous. I think away from home that's important.

"Coming here isn't easy and Blackburn had won their last four or five at home. When you come here you have to defend a lot of long balls and knock-downs and we did that really well.

"Coming away from home if you can pick up points, then with our form at the Britannia, we'll be right up there."