Sunday 15 February 2015 15:18, UK
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer laughed off suggestions his side could win the FA Cup after he masterminded Saturday’s thrashing of Stoke.
Rovers recovered from going a goal down in the 10th-minute to win 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Josh King and a Rudy Gestede penalty to secure their place in Monday’s quarter-final draw.
Stoke were Bowyer’s second Premier League scalp in this year’s competition, following a victory over Swansea in round four, but he refused to contemplate lifting the trophy on May 30.
"Win it? Do me a favour, I have just finished this game," said Bowyer. "We are just delighted to be in the next round. We would love another home tie and then we will go from there."
Hat-trick scorer King, who failed to make the grade at Manchester United having joined them as a 16-year-old from Norwegian side Valerenga, was a constant menace with his pace and he won the penalty which led to a red card for Geoff Cameron before the break.
But Bowyer was unwilling to single out the 23-year-old for praise, preferring to focus on the team display.
“It was a massive squad and team effort,” he added. "We identified areas (where) we thought we might get success and King's pace was one of them and the rest of the team played to his strengths.
"He has fantastic pace and the most pleasing thing was he finished those.
"Kingy is going to get the plaudits for his hat-trick and rightly so but he will be the first to say he needs the lads to put the ball in the right areas and they were terrific in doing that for him today.
“I’m delighted for him, he works hard as they all do. And it’s the finishing that he wants to improve.
"I thought to a man we were excellent, outstanding. Full praise to the lads. I don't think they got enough credit for what they did in the last round.
"To go down 1-0 so early and come back made it a great cup tie."
