West Brom 0 - 3 Stoke City
Etherington (pen) 55
Walters (pen) 85
Walters 90+3
Att: 24,164
Three and Easy for Inform Potters
Stoke made it three straight wins in top flight for the first time in 25 years with a comfortable 3-0 victory at midlands rivals West Brom. Walters completed a week of personal highs after making his International debut for Republic of Ireland, he scored twice after Etherington gave the Potters the lead from the spot.
The ref Chris Foy gave Stoke 2 second half penalties, the first came after Carson brought Jones down, Etherington dispatched it despite Carson guessing the right way and the second was awarded after Whitehead was barged over by Cox, sub Walters then dispatched the second sending Carson the wrong way.
It was certainly a game of two half’s as West Brom were much the better team in first half, Odemwingie had a shot blocked in the first minute by Shawcross which went out for a corner. The Nigerian then whipped over a free kick which Begovic gathered comfortably, Stoke then came forward Fuller and Etherington linking up well Etherington’s cross was too deep for Jones but Pennant managed to get to it but his attempted cross went high and wide. Pennant seemed to have pulled up with an injury but attempted to carry on but moments later went down with a hamstring injury which forced Stoke into an early change just 10 minutes in Tuncay came on for Pennant.
The Baggies pressed on with Odemwingie firing a low shot at Begovic just before Mulumbu nearly gave the Baggies the lead but his shot went just over with Begovic beaten. Stoke found themselves under constant pressure as they allowed West Brom time on the ball and seemed to be sitting deep, a stark contrast from a week ago against Liverpool when Stoke were constantly pressing them. Barnes sent over a series of crosses but Stoke never seemed troubled by them.
A rare Stoke attack saw Fuller thwarted after getting crowded out in the Albion box, Tuncay then brought down Thomas 30 yards from goal but Odemwingie blasted the free-kick over. Odemwingie then twisted and turned but his shot was tame and Begovic gathered comfortably.
The Stoke faithful did their best to rouse the Potters, with the Albion fans easily drowned out by those in the away end, but the half-time whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for Pulis.
However, the travelling Stoke supporters were rewarded as their side took charge after the interval.
The Baggies seemed to have started where they left off from the first half with an early cross from Thomas bounced off Odemwingie’s knees with Morrison unable get a shot off.
10 minutes into the second half Stoke opened the scoring after Jones was upended by Carson, Fuller gathered the ball after Albion failed to clear a cross and played it into Jones, who initially appeared to have let it slip past him but got a touch just as Carson was diving at his feet. Jones foot seemed to have got caught under Carson which was enough for him to go down and Stoke finally got a rub of the green with a refereeing decision.
Etherington stepped up despite having an off day and quiet game he dispatched the spot kick confidently with Carson guessing the right way.
West Brom boss Di Matteo went in search of an equaliser by sending Cox on for Morrison. But it was Stoke now in the ascendency with Whitehead keeping up his recent good form he sent a shot just over Carson’s goal. The Baggies then made their second change with Barnes coming off to be replaced by Tchoyi.
It was nearly a stroke of genius by Di Matteo as Tchoyi put a low delivery into the danger area which Stoke managed to clear and then the Cameroonian then forced a good save from Begovic, Cech blazed over soon after and Cox's low shot from distance deflected wide before Di Matteo made his final substitution, with Dorrans replacing Mulumbu. But after that Albion lacked urgency and they were restricted to long-range efforts which didn’t seem to trouble the Stoke rear guard.
Stoke were then lucky not to concede a penalty themselves after Huth tangled with Odemwingie. Walters was then introduced in the 79th minute for Etherington who had a disappointing game despite his goal. Stoke’s second goal came after a disappointing free kick from Tuncay hit the wall Whitehead picked up the pieces played the ball back out wide to Tunacy who then played a lovely reverse pass to Whitehead who had made a run into the area but he was body checked by Cox who had no intention of getting ball. The ref pointed straight to the spot for Stoke’s second penalty of the game, with Etherington and Fuller off the pitch after being substituted Walters picked the ball up to take on the responsibility of seeing off West Brom. Walters sent Carson the wrong way to give Stoke a deserved 2-0 lead and then 3 minutes into injury time Jones cut the ball back across goal from the by line to Walters but his first effort was saved by Carson but he smashed the rebound into the roof of the net to send the fans behind the goal delirious.
Stoke continue to be the Baggies bogey side with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Hawthorns, Stoke will face a much sterner test next week at the Brit with the millionaires in town Man City.
Man of the Match: Walters, super sub appearance with 2 goals, completing a memorable week for him including his first International cap.
STOKE: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins, Pennant (Tunacy 11), Delap, Whitehead, Etherington (Walters 79), Jones, Fuller (Wilson 83)
SUBS: Sorenson, Higginbotham, Whelan, Gudjohnsen
WBA: Carson, Cech, Pablo, Tamas, Jara, Morrison (Cox 56), Barnes (Tchoyi 66), Thomas, Mulumbu (Dorrans 80), Scharner, Odemwingie
SUBS: Myhil, Shorey, Reid, Fortune
Ref: Chris Foy