JOIN USDefeat left Rovers rooted in the bottom two along with Wigan.Kean, the subject of protests from Rovers fans who want him out of Ewood Park, signed a revised deal this week -- albeit without a change in the length of his contract -- in a show of support from the club's Indian owners Venky's.
His side, with just one win from 13 games, were well beaten at the Britannia stadium, falling behind on 28 minutes when Rory Delap glanced in Jermaine Pennant's free kick.
Argentine Mauro Formica missed a great chance to level soon after the restart but completely missed his kick just a metre out.
Stoke doubled their lead on 58 minutes when Glenn Whelan's blast from the edge of the box took a deflection to beat goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Peter Crouch made it 3-0 with a fine left-foot finish 18 minutes from time before Spaniard Ruben Rochina fired home a late consolation.
Udinese top
Late goals from Antonio Di Natale and Mauricio Isla sent Udinese top of Serie A after a 2-0 win at home over AS Roma on Friday.
After a disappointing opening hour between two of Serie A's most exciting teams, Di Natale broke the deadlock on 79 minutes, cracking his ninth goal of the season after running on to Giampiero Pinzi's fine through ball.
Chilean midfielder Mauricio Isla settled the contest a minute from time, tapping in Pablo Armero's cross to give Udinese their sixth straight home win this season.
With 24 points from 12 matches, Francesco Guidolin's side are two points ahead of Lazio and Juventus, who have played two games fewer than Udinese, while Roma remain fifth. Whether it was the unusual Friday night kick off or the 10-minute delay before the start because of a loose net, both Udinese and Roma appeared to lack rhythm in a niggly first half.
Di Natale had been kept quiet all night but he finally broke through just as it looked as though the game would end goalless, running on to Pinzi's clipped pass before firing high into the net.
With Roma chasing the game, Isla doubled the home side's advantage at the death, sidefooting home from close range after Colombian winger Armero had stolen possession and centred from the left.