Stoke City Vs West Bromwich Albion - Match Report

Stoke City’s thirty-year unbeaten home record against West Bromwich Albion finally came to an end on Saturday as Graham Dorrans netted a late winner. The Potters came into the game in a strong run of form having remained unbeaten in their last four games, whilst Roy Hodgson’s men had lost their last three.

The away side saw the majority of the possession in the first half and they created their first chance inside the first five minutes when Jerome Thomas latched onto a long searching ball on the left hand side, before skipping past Jonathon Woodgate. However, as he approached the Stoke goal, Thomas Sorensen made himself look big and managed to rescue the ball from Thomas’ feet. The Baggies’ best chance of the first half fell to Simon Cox in the 14^th minute as a Marc-Antoine Fortune cross found its way to the unmarked striker just inside the penalty area. Despite the time and space he had though, he fired wide without testing Sorensen.

The home side only managed to carve out half chances in the first half, one of which fell to Jon Walters. After a long ball from Woodgate had fooled both Nicky Shorey and Gabriel Tamas, the Irishman found himself with a clear run at goal, but as he approached Ben Foster in the West Brom goal, his shot was weak and was cleared away.

Half-way through the first half, James Morrison gave the Potters a taste of what was to come as he fired a storming long-range shot which on this occasion expertly tipped onto the crossbar by Sorensen. However, in the 35^th minute Sorensen was red faced as Morrison was again allowed to run through the Stoke midfield before trying his luck from thirty yards. The Danish keeper seemed to see it late and as a result, the ball trickled through his hands and into the net.

The second half saw the home side step up a gear, but at the same time look susceptible on the counter attack. Both Walters and Matthew Etherington tried their luck from just outside the penalty area, with one shot flying wide of the right hand post, and the other flashing across the six yard box. Despite the attacking promise of Stoke at one end, the Baggies nearly doubled their lead just after when Morrison again found space and this time managed to rattle the upright of the goal, with Sorensen beaten.

West Brom continued to try and put the game beyond their hosts and in the 54^th minute they nearly did just that as Fortune skipped past Glenn Whelan before swerving a cross into the penalty area. It was again Cox who latched onto the ball, but again he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the home side.  With the game becoming more and more stretched, Tony Pulis added Jermaine Pennant to the action, withdrawing Woodgate and he made and instant impact as he crossed the ball in from the right hand side, but Walters headed well wide.

In the 71^st minute, Walters was adjudged to have been fouled inside the penalty area by Tamas and referee, Andrew Taylor, pointed to the spot. The Irish striker picked himself up, but drove the penalty too close to Ben Foster who pushed the ball away. Time was running out for the usually plucky Potters and in an attempt to steal a point, Pulis made his second substitution as Cameron Jerome was given valuable playing time. In the same way that Pennant did, the former Birmingham City striker made an instant impact. After a free-kick was curled in from the right hand side, Jerome rose highest to head the ball past the diving Foster.

However, as the Potters’ fans celebrated, Dorrans ruined the party with a low, curling free kick which saw Sorensen fooled for the second time in the match and the ball roll into the right-hand corner of the net.

It was a blow for Tony Pulis and his players, but it’s difficult to suggest that the Baggies didn’t deserve their three points after creating the better of the chances and making the most of their possession. The two now take a break from the Premier League to concentrate on FA Cup football with the Potters heading down the A50 to Derby and West Brom returning back to the Hawthorn’s to take on Norwich.

Hannah Burrows